Kauto Star ready to show star quality

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 22:53

PAUL Nicholls is confident the testing conditions at Haydock this afternoon will not be a problem for Kauto Star when he makes his eagerly-anticipated return in the Betfair Chase.

The dual Gold Cup hero has been off the track since securing the second of his Cheltenham crowns, and will be chasing a third success in this weekend's Grade One following victories in 2006 and 2007. He parted company with Sam Thomas at the final fence in last year's renewal, however, when victory was far from assured. But Nicholls feels his charge is in much better form this time.

He said: "People talk about this race last year but there really is no comparison as I shouldn't have run him that day, having already been to Down Royal. This year he is fresh and ready to go.

"We're very happy with him and he isn't like Master Minded, who needed the run at Cheltenham last week. I suppose you never know how much they will need the run until they actually go, but we are very pleased with where he is at the moment."

It has become something of an uneasy trend within certain racing circles to breed negative thoughts about Kauto Star, but he can leave his doubters red-faced with another victory.

That his propensity to act on the testing ground has been called into question is a rather blinkered assessment of Nicholls' great horse, who has in the past shown his mettle in easy conditions.

His rivals each have a minimum of 17lb to find and even given less-than-ideal underfoot conditions, Kauto Star remains the class act.

Elsewhere, Planet Of Sound can forward his championship claims with victory in Ascot's Amlin 1965 Chase.

At Kelso yesterday, jockey Denis O'Regan – just back from injury – enjoyed a double for trainer Howard Johnson, winning on Bay Cherry at 9-1 and Percussionist (9-2). Ferdy Murphy's course and distance winner King Of Confusion (10-3) won the finale in the hands of Graham Lee, and the Sue Smith-trained 10-3 favourite Garleton won for Tjade Collier. The shortest priced runner of the day, Little Josh (2-5) made no mistake in the Beginners' Chase for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and rider Paddy Brennan.

Meanwhile, Musselburgh kicks off its National Hunt season tomorrow. At the 53,000 Thrills and Spills raceday, Cumbrian raider Border Tale, beaten by a nose by Presque Perdre at Haydock, bids to go one better in the 10,000 toteswinger Handicap Hurdle. Rosewell trainer Peter Monteith saddles course specialist Los Nadis in the 12,000 Racing UK Handicap Hurdle and despite top weight must go close in the hands of in-form Ryan Mania.