KAUTO STAR can join a select band of horses to have won a third totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.20pm) today.
Paul Nicholls’ 10-year-old can become the fifth horse after greats Golden Miller, Cottake Rake, Arkle and Best Mate to complete the hat-trick.
Many horses by the age of 10 are on the wane, but Kauto Star has put up arguably his two best performances in his last three runs.
He became the first horse to regain the Gold Cup 12 months ago in scintillating fashion and after a ring-rusty win at Haydock on his return, he did even better at Kempton.
His record-breaking fourth success in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day showed he is at the peak of this powers.
He arrives at Cheltenham fresh and in superb form and although he faces his rival and stable-mate Denman, who beat him in the Gold Cup in 2008, he can come out on top.
Denman may have to settle for being runner-up again, while Aon winner Tricky Trickster can make it another 1-2-3 for the Ditcheat master.
In the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30pm) Nicky Henderson‘s SOLDATINO looks the most likely winner of a typically competitive contest.
The four-year-old French import won on his debut for the Seven Barrows yard on his only start in Britain. Tellingly, though, he landed the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton, a race which has been a good guide to this Grade One contest.
There looks more to come from this exciting juvenile.
OLDRIK and Any Given Day for the in-form Philip Hobbs and Donald McCain stables respectively are two who can go well in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle (2.05pm), with slight preference for the former.
BABY RUN can land the Christie’s Foxhunters Chase (4pm). Others of interest include the Nicholls duo TATANIANO in the Johnny Henderson Memorial Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup (5.15pm) and ENTERPRISE PARK in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2.40pm) as well DANSIMAR in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (4.40pm).
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL (Day Four): 1.30pm (JCB Triumph Hurdle) Soldatino (NAP); 2.05pm Oldrik; 2.40pm Enterprise Park; 3.20pm (totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup) 1 KAUTO STAR 2 Denman 3 Tricky Trickster; 4pm Baby Run; 4.40pm Dansimar; 5.15pm Tataniano.
