Racing: Kauto Star has to pull out all stops for win

Kauto Star returned to action with a hard-fought victory in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal in Northern Ireland.

But the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was made to pull out all the stops against two young horses certain to win more races - Sizing Europe, last season's Arkle winner, and China Rock.

All three were still going well enough four fences from home in the three-miler, but Kauto Star's class eventually shone through and the 4-7 favourite added yet another Grade One to his incredible haul, with Sizing Europe four lengths behind in second and China Rock a neck back.

Paddy Power make Kauto Star 6-4 favourite from 7-4 for the King George on Boxing Day. William Hill are unchanged at 7-4..