Kauto Star trainer sticking to his tried and tested formula

If more than a decade at the top end of the training ranks has taught Paul Nicholls one thing, it is to not change a winning formula.

So no new tricks have been shown to Kauto Star at Nicholls' stables in Somerset as he attempts to claim the William Hill King George VI Chase for an historic fifth time in a row at Kempton on Boxing Day.

"It's just the same routine as ever, routine is a big thing with them, horses like it," says Nicholls.

"For the last three weeks before the race, he just works hard. Nothing in particular, just hard work and every Sunday go on the walker, but apart from that, just do something every day.

"He does a combination of things but we've got a routine with him and it sort of sticks."

Kauto Star is already considered among the very best chasers of all time, with multiple victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Betfair Chase along with a stash of other Grade Ones, but he will draw one ahead of the iconic grey Desert Orchid in King Georges should he prevail this time. Although always a man to look to the future, Nicholls does realise how lucky he is to be blessed with both the French-bred and the equally popular Denman, a Gold Cup and dual Hennessy winner himself and, although the pair are both almost 11, Nicholls believes neither are in decline just yet.

"We thought last year the King George run was one of Kauto's best ever and we thought at Gold Cup time it was the best we had ever had him. But of course he made that mistake and then fell so he never got the chance to show it.

"He has shown all the signs this autumn that he's as good as ever and he ran nicely (in Ireland last month), so at the moment there's no sign age is catching up with him.

"At some stage it is bound to but at the moment the great thing is that both he and Denman are still fit and healthy."