NICKY HENDERSON has revealed Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run is almost unrecognisable from last season having grown substantially during his summer break.

Plenty doubted the French import would reach the top after he was beaten in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his seasonal reappearance 12 months ago, but he went on to prove his class with brilliant displays in the King George VI Chase at Kempton and in the blue riband at Prestbury Park.

The Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19 will be his first port of call this time around, but Henderson has warned his star performer is not guaranteed to be at peak fitness by the time the Grade One contest comes around.

“I went to see Long Run three weeks before he came back here and I thought he was someone else when coming out of the stable,” said Henderson.

“I nearly did not recognise him because he was considerably bigger and had grown quite a lot. Horses will go on growing but at six they should be getting to full maturity. If a horse has grown, he must be getting stronger. There should be more to come.

“I don’t know what that means but he is a fantastic-looking horse. He is a beautiful horse and it is quite nice when the form book follows the rule book that the correct good-looking horse that does looks like a natural athlete is the natural athlete.

“Long Run takes his races well - he soon bounces back. The pressure will be on us this season as he has to defend his crown.

“We want to start in the Betfair which is a relatively new race as it is ideally placed in the calendar before the King George. I want to win the Betfair and then the King George. He will be wound up the best we can, but the horses might be a bit behind because of the dry weather we have had.

“I’d like to think we will get on the grass on Saturday.

“ The horses could just do with two bits of work on the grass.”

CHRIS WRIGHT'S NAP: Violent Velocity (8.40pm Wolverhampton).