Racing:Paul Nicholls is in no rush to decide who will partner Kauto Star in the absence of Ruby Walsh. The dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero made a winning return to action at Down Royal under Walsh on Saturday, but his regular partner then suffered a double fracture to his right leg in a fall later in the day.
That injury will sideline Walsh until at least the end of January, so Nicholls and owner Clive Smith now need to decide who will take over in the saddle.
Connections will also need to decide whether to let the 10-year-old carry top-weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury later this month ahead of his bid for a historic fifth King George VI Chase triumph on Boxing Day.
"I haven't had a chance to have a chat with Clive (about riding arrangements) yet, but over the last few years (I've learnt that) to make a decision too soon is wrong as people get hurt and things change," said the Ditcheat handler. "We're in the driving seat really as plenty of people would love to ride him, so we're not going to make a rushed decision and we'll think about it.
"I've got two or three people in my mind but I'm not worried about it at this stage. We haven't decided whether he's going to run in the Hennessy yet. That is still an option, but it is only an option. Once I've seen Clive we can make a bit of a plan."
Nicholls was delighted with his star performer's display in the JNwine.com Champion Chase and believes there are no signs that he is on the decline.
"You're always nervous on their first run back having been away for the summer but we were happy with him at home and he'd been showing us he was just as good as ever," Nicholls told At The Races. I'd left plenty to work on as we know now he improves for a run and we wanted to get run into him.
"He's come back in good shape, so we're very happy with him and I think that's as well as I've ever seen him jump."