Kauto Star fine after Betfair Chase victory at Haydock and is set to bid for fourth King George VI Chase success

Nov 23 2009 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

KAUTO STAR is fit and well and ready to bid for a fourth King George VI Chase victory following his pulsating hat-trick success in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls’ dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero landed the Grade One contest for a third time in the past four years following a fascinating tussle with Imperial Commander. It was hard to tell who had prevailed in a wonderful battle to the line, but the judge declared there was just a nose separating the talented duo.

Following the victory on his seasonal debut the Clive Smith-owned nine-year-old will head to Kempton on Boxing Day looking for a fourth win in the William Hill King George VI Chase, for which he is a best-priced 10-11 with the sponsors, totesport and Stan James.

Champion trainer Nicholls said: “He’s A1. Obviously we were pleased that he won. It was a tight race, but it was what we wanted to start the season off and now it’s all systems go for Kempton on Boxing Day. It was a proper race for every fan of jump racing. It was a good race and he’s fine.”

Kauto Star was eased slightly for next March’s Gold Cup and is now a best-priced 7-4 with most firms for the totesport.com Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Following his narrow defeat by Kauto Star the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Imperial Commander could bid for revenge in both the King George on Boxing Day and in the Gold Cup at next March’s Cheltenham Festival.

Imperial Commander, who won the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase last season, put in a wonderful effort on his step back up to three miles and looks to be a horse on an upward curve.

He is now a best-priced 6-1 second favourite with Stan James and Paddy Power for the King George VI Chase and 10-1 for the Gold Cup. Twiston-Davies is already looking ahead to next March and he said: “He was literally beaten a whisker and it was disappointing as it meant an awful lot and it was a lot of money.

“I was champion trainer before the race and I’m not now. I loved Paul Nicholls saying Kauto Star will improve, but ours will improve even more, as ours is a big, burly horse and needed the run.

“I don’t know about Kempton, as it is much more Kauto Star’s track, but bring on Cheltenham and let’s have a go.”

TODAY’S NAP: Whiteoak (1.25pm Kempton)