Clive Smith pins hope on Kauto Star turn

It now seems an age ago that Smith, along with trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh, had a complete stranglehold on all the major National Hunt prizes with the two French imports - but time waits for no horse.

On his incredible CV Kauto Star has won 21 of his 36 races, including four King Georges, two Gold Cups, two Tingle Creeks and three Betfair Chases.

He created history in becoming the first horse to reclaim the biggest prize in steeplechasing in 2009, but he fell when beaten 12 months ago and even lost his aura of invincibility at his favourite Kempton when the young buck Long Run beat him in January.

With last year's winner Imperial Commander, 2008 hero Denman and Nicky Henderson's Long Run in today's race, Smith is well aware of the task at hand.

"It's very strong," said Smith. "There's Imperial Commander there and, according to Nigel Twiston-Davies, he's in very good shape. He goes well fresh and loves Cheltenham so we have got some big opposition there and, of course, we all know how good Long Run is and Denman is there again.

Tony McCoy was on Kauto Star at Kempton and, while Smith attaches no blame to him for the defeat, he is hoping his old ally Walsh sparks him back to life.

Nicholls does not just have Kauto Star in the mix, however. As well as fellow Festival stalwart Denman he will also saddle What A Friend and Neptune Collonges.

"This is the sixth Festival on the trot that Denman has been to which is an incredible performance on its own, and this is his fourth Gold Cup," said Nicholls.

There is no doubt that, if Long Run can reproduce his King George form, that would make him the one to beat. However, in two runs at Cheltenham so far the six-year-old has failed to produce his best and Henderson has the utmost respect for the old guard.

"I still think Kauto Star is the horse I respect the most in the race and have no doubt in this year's King George we didn't see the same Kauto as we did before," he said.

Last year's renewal was built up as a shootout between Kauto Star and Denman and history will show that Imperial Commander spoiled the party.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' ten-year-old is a stereotypical Cheltenham specialist, with six of his eight career wins coming at the home of National Hunt racing.

He may have been the forgotten horse last year but he heads into this year's renewal as the favourite. He has held that position since his win 12 months ago, although he has only run twice since.Having fallen at Aintree he showed that his engine still remained in order when winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock on his only start of the season.

"Everything has been 100 per cent with him," said Twiston-Davies. "We've had a gallop at Warwick and then we took him to Kempton where he went well.

"There's a bit of rain forecast depending on who you listen to, but I don't think it matters. He won on good ground last year, but he's won on soft plenty of times.

"They've all got him to beat."