RACING:ALL THE hard work is done for the team behind Kauto Star – now it is up to the horse as history beckons in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton today.
Those closest to the 11-year-old insist he is as good as ever as he prepares to win today’s great race for the fifth year in succession, a feat which would eclipse – at least numerically – Desert Orchid.
“He is fit and well and ready to go,” said champion trainer Paul Nicholls. “When you’re running in a Grade One in that sort of company it’s always hard to win, but we’re happy with the way he is and his record at Kempton is second to none.
“There’s no point going into the race being negative. We’re positive and we think he’s well. If he runs like he did last year he’s bound to go well. He loves the track. Last year he won very well, he beat some decent horses and it was a very good run, although I still think when you win a Gold Cup it’s as good a run as any.
“He was impressive (in the King George), but to win the Gold Cup is as good as any horse will achieve. We thought we had him as good as ever in last season’s Gold Cup, but it didn’t work out right. In his work at home he is no different to how he has always been. Clifford (Baker, head lad) rides him every day and thinks he is just as good as ever.”
But just as Kauto Star has swapped blows with stablemate Denman over the years, it is once again from within that may lurk his biggest danger. Nicholls has been consistently keen on his second string, The Nightingale, a young horse on the up and impressive when winning on the same Down Royal card as Kauto Star in November.
He has been the subject of sustained market support in the wake of positive bulletins, and Nicholls added: “He goes well right-handed, he likes cut in the ground and the form of his win in Ireland has worked out really well. If it was a handicap he would be giving Long Run weight. He’s not without a chance, he’s improving and is an unexposed horse. There’s probably only him and Riverside Theatre in there that are unexposed like that.
“No one really knows how good he is and I think he will run a really good race.”
Due to injuries to Ruby Walsh and Noel Fehily, Tony McCoy is called up to cap a magical couple of months following his crowning as BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
