Kauto Star right back on track for Gold Cup

The 12-year-old was described as “50-50” for the Festival showpiece last week after it emerged he had suffered a schooling fall at Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard.

Kauto Star has made massive strides in his race to be fit for the blue riband event on Friday, for which he is 4-1 second favourite behind Long Run, and Nicholls was keen to see how he fared in a racecourse spin with stablemate Mon Parrain.

Regular rider Ruby Walsh was on hand to put Kauto Star through his paces over two miles while Daryl Jacob teamed up with Mon Parrain, who is rated 150 himself.

The pair went just a steady pace early on, with Walsh pushing to the front after half a mile and Mon Parrain settled a couple of lengths behind on his heels. Mon Parrain came back up to join him turning for home and the pace upped a gentle notch down the straight, with the pair racing upsides each other. Neither horse was asked any real questions and Kauto Star, who looked fresh and well in himself, passed the post around a head in front, although both horses were more or less in first gear throughout.

Nicholls said: “I’m very, very pleased and Ruby said that he could hardly hold him. I didn’t want him to do too much but they quickened up a bit. If he’s all right tomorrow and schools on Monday, then I’d say we’re in business. I can’t tell you the difference between looking at him now and last Friday. It’s a phenomenal difference and it’s a huge relief because everyone can see if he’s in good or bad shape and he looked in really good order.

“He looks like he did before Haydock (Betfair Chase win) and the King George and he’s full of enthusiasm. He will jump two brush hurdles and a couple of brush fences on Monday morning and Ruby will come over to do it.”

Owner Clive Smith was also on hand to watch the gallop and he was equally upbeat about the dual Gold Cup runner’s performance.

He added: “Ruby said he was very pleased and he did every bit as well as he expected.

“They went a little bit faster in the last half a mile and I thought he looked good. It’s all systems go [for Cheltenham].”

Meanwhile, the £2 Scottish punter who won landed £31,413 on last weekend’s totescoop6 is bracing himself for landing a potential £400,000 windfall if he picks the winner of the bonus race at Sandown - the Paddy Power Imperial Cup - this afternoon.

Richard Duddy, from Carluke in Scotland, placed his bet in a Ladbrokes shop and has been a regular Scoop6 player for years. He will be enjoying the race from the restaurant at Sandown today alongside his brother and sister. The other two tickets are held by a large-staking Betfair customer.

“I’d like to wish Richard and the other Scoop6 bonus hunters all the very best as they look to take their winnings to well over £400,000 this weekend,” said Betfred chairman Fred Done.

Value-seekers could do a lot worse than following Ile De Re in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup. Although most of the pre-race attention has understandably revolved around the entries from the David Pipe and Nicholls stables, this six-year-old grey has almost been discounted in certain quarters and Ian Williams’ charge is napped at around the 12-1 mark to make his presence felt in style.