The 2011 Cheltenham World Hurdle isn’t the only horse racing event expected to get a lot of betting action at the Cheltenham Festival. The Cheltenham Gold Cup will be held on the fourth and last day of the festival. After last Saturday’s result, the race is particularly interesting.

Long Run comes in third in the betting after his stunning victory at the King George VI Chase over the weekend. The 6-year-old beat the great Kauto Star, who was going for a fifth straight win at the Kempton race. Long Run won by 12 lengths over stablemate Riverside Theatre. Trainer Nicky Henderson also got another win from Binocular with a Christmas Hurdle win earlier in the day. Long Run won the 2009 Feltham Novices but many are wondering if he is up to the challenge of the Cheltenham course this time. He has finished third twice there, most recently with the Paddy Powder Gold Cup in November where he led the antepost odds.

Leading the odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup is defending champion Imperial Commander. Kauto Star is listed just behind Long Run because of his poor performance from the weekend. Many are questioning whether the 11-year-old is past his prime. Paul Nicholls has more problems. Kauto Star’s stablemate The Nightingale was found to have a fibrillating heart upon examination after the race. He was expected to become a worthy challenger to Kauto Star, but now he could miss much of the season and has been scratched from recent races.

Another Cheltenham Gold Cup contender isn’t doing well. Forpadydeplasterer pulled up early at King George and has been called sick by his trainer. Albertas Run also pulled up early. The odds are drifting on many horses so watch the action closely as we near March.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Outright Odds (provided by Party Bets)

Imperial Commander: 7/2

Denman: 7/1

Long Run: 6/1

Kauto Star: 8/1

Diamond Harry: 10/1

Pandorama: 12/1

Pride of Dulcote: 14/1

Punchestowns: 20/1

Midnight Chase: 20/1

Time For Rupert: 25/1

Sizing Europe: 25/1

Somersby: 25/1

Joncol: 25/1

What A Friend: 25/1

Mikael D’Haguenet: 25/1

Cooldine: 25/1

Burton Port: 25/1

Tricky Trickster: 25/1