The Giant Bolster (left): “a different horse this year and mentally stronger”

 PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos) 

Bridgwater rates Long Run as the main danger

DAVID BRIDGWATER, trainer of leading King George contender The Giant Bolster, believes the Kempton showpiece could develop into a two-horse race between his stable star and 2010 winner Long Run.

The Giant Bolster finished ahead of Long Run to finish second in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race Bridgwater feels is significant in the context of today’s William Hill-sponsored contest.

“He’s a different horse this year and is mentally stronger,” said Bridgwater on The Morning Line.

When quizzed about riding tactics, Bridgwater, who has secured the services of Tony McCoy with regular jockey Tom Scudamore on Grands Crus, added: “Junior and Long Run will be the one-two and if I was riding The Bolster I would sit in third with the eye on the prize because as far as I can see it, looking at the Gold Cup form, it’s a two-horse race between us and Long Run.”

The going for the big race is likely to be extremely testing with clerk of the course Barney Clifford describing the track as the softest it’s been since 1994.

He said: “We had 10 mm of rain yesterday and it is heavy. It walks a little bit better today and the hurdles course is heavier than the chase course.”

fonte: RacingPost