Soft going may make it hard for Star

Published on Monday 16 November 2009 21:55

CONDITIONS look like being testing at Haydock on Saturday when Kauto Star makes his fourth successive appearance in the Betfair Chase.

The going is already described as soft at the Merseyside track after rain over the weekend – and more is forecast during the week.

Kauto Star took this prize in 2006 and 2007, but unseated Sam Thomas at the final fence when going for the hat-trick 12 months ago. He was among 13 to stand their ground at the five-day stage and trainer Paul Nicholls has confirmed the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero a definite runner.

“Kauto Star is going to go there, I just stuck the other horse [Nozic] in just in case the race cut up to four or five runners. I’d say it was more likely he would run in the Becher Chase [at Aintree on Sunday],” said the Ditcheat handler.

The forecast of soft ground will cheer connections of the sole Irish possible Notre Pere.

Last season’s Welsh National and Punchestown Gold Cup scorer fell in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on his return earlier this month.

“Notre Pere is a possible runner for the Betfair Chase, as things stand. He came out his fall at Down Royal fine and it was just one of those things that can happen in racing,” said Dreaper.

“I wouldn’t be concerned about taking on Kauto Star – we need to get Notre Pere running after that blip the other day.”

Connections of Madison Du Berlais, winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup and totesport Bowl, are also not afraid of taking on Kauto Star. “Speaking to his owners over the weekend, we are probably leaning more towards the Betfair [rather than the Hennessy],” said trainer David Pipe. “I’m sure it will be a top-class race. As for beating Kauto Star, I don’t know, but every horse is beatable.”

&#149 Legendary American trainer Bobby Frankel has died at his home in California aged 68 after a long battle with leukaemia.

He was one of the most decorated members of his profession as a Hall Of Famer and five-time champion US trainer who landed the world record amount of most Grade or Group 1 victories in a single season.

Frankel was born in New York on 9 July, 1941 and started off with lowly horses in 1966 before swapping to the West Coast scene, dominating for many years at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita. He won the 2003 Belmont Stakes with Empire Maker and had six Breeders’ Cup winners including 2004 Classic winner Ghostzapper. He was known in Britain for taking over the training of many of Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms horses.