CHAMPION jockey Tony McCoy thinks it will be virtually “impossible to beat” Kauto Star in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Paul Nicholls’ nine-year-old is bidding to land a fourth successive victory in the Christmas feature having landed a hat-trick of wins in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on his seasonal return last month.

McCoy will be in opposition aboard last year’s King George runner-up Albertas Run, who was among the 14 entries left in at yesterday’s five-day declaration stage.

Kauto Star is Coral’s 8-13 favourite while Albertas Run is generally a 20-1 chance with most firms. And McCoy doesn’t believe he will be able to go one better than last year.

The 14-time champion jockey said: “As we all know, Kauto Star is going to win. He looks impossible to beat, but Albertas Run was a good second to him last year and hopefully that gives him a good chance of being in the money again.

“I can only see the weather upsetting Kauto Star. He’s an amazing horse to have achieved what he has – two Tingle Creeks over two miles, three King Georges and two Gold Cups. He’s an outstanding racehorse and will be very hard to beat.”

Kauto Star’s rider Ruby Walsh is also confident he will win and thinks he may be even better than last year.

Walsh said: “I would say Kauto Star is as good if not better than last year.

“Kempton’s been a very lucky track for me over the last couple of years and Kauto has been outstanding there. It’s a race I really look forward to and I can’t wait for it to come around.

“I’m looking forward to riding him and if he could win four King Georges, he will go down in history.

“It’s pretty hard for me to tell how well Kauto is at home, but Paul sees him every morning so he’s a better judge of that than me and he thinks he’s improved considerably.”

TODAY'S NAP: Indy Driver (2.55pm Southwell).