Newbury report: Paul Nicholls unveiled a possible Arkle Trophy contender as Kauto Star swept to an impressive debut success at Newbury yesterday.
The four-year-old was having his first run since switching from France in the Western Daily Press Race Club Novices' Chase and although he was sent off as the 2 to 1 joint-favourite, he faced some pretty stiff opposition.
But when Ruby Walsh sent Kauto Star into the lead at the third-last fence, he quickly accelerated clear of his rivals, ultimately beating useful hurdler Foreman by nine lengths with the pair well clear of third-home Sleep Bal.
Nicholls was understandably delighted with the performance of Kauto Star, who was bought for owner Clive Smith in a joint deal with another nice prospect in the form of Le Seychellois.
"Ruby got off and said 'He's a machine - end of story'," said the trainer, who, along with Walsh, was initiating a near 16 to 1 double, although they were out of luck when favourite Ladalko was beaten into second in the feature Challow Hurdle.
"He had some very good form over hurdles in France but he was bought to go chasing and that is always where his future was going to lie. As soon as we schooled him over fences he was brilliant.
"We'll give him all the time that he needs - he's too nice to be rushed - but if we can get to Cheltenham for the Arkle Chase then that would obviously be nice."
Bookmakers, clearly impressed with the performance, immediately slashed Kauto Star's price for that contest with Paddy Power and Totesport offering 6 to 1 and Coral 7 to 1, having initially offered 10s.
The first and last-race brace was completed when the well-backed Earth Man took the Weatherbys Insurance "Championship" Stakes bumper.
Walsh had his rivals covered throughout the final stages as he cruised along behind favourite Lutea with two furlongs to go. But his mount failed to pick up in quite the way it looked as if he might and had to be pushed out close home to beat Netherley by a length and a half.
"We won't go over hurdles this season - we'll go for one of the big bumpers now, either at Cheltenham or Aintree, or maybe Punchestown," said Nicholls.
Lady Zephyr (2 to 1) defied a double penalty under Carl Llewellyn in the EBF Mares' Only "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier).
The prolific winning mare strode away from the final flight to beat Mistress Banjo by six lengths.
The final of this series is the obvious target for Lady Zephyr, who saw out this two miles and five furlongs strongly.
Llewellyn and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies completed doubles themselves when Grumpy Stumpy took the H and T Pawnbrokers Novices' Handicap Chase.
Rubberdubber (4 to 1) benefited from a sensible ride from Jimmy McCarthy to take the stanjamesuk.com Introductory Novices' Hurdle.
Opting to take his mount to the front in the early stages, he used Rubberdubber's long stride to hold off all-comers in the closing stages.
Medison looked sure to go past the winner when cruising up behind on the run to the final flight but found nothing off the bridle and faded back into third close home as 66 to 1 chance Pretty Star stayed on to grab the runner-up spot.
Rubberdubber was beaten into third on his only previous start over hurdles at Exeter last month, but Egerton said that he took the blame for that running.
"I walked the course that day before racing but it ran much slower than it walked and I should never have run him on ground that soft," he said.
"Jimmy has given him a great ride today. I thought we would get outspeeded by one or two of these Flat horses but he stuck on really well."
Sadly, the race saw two equine casualties as The Queen's Moonstream was pulled up after breaking a leg turning out of the back straight and Trueno suffered a fatal fall at the last.
McCarthy's great ride was rewarded with a one-day ban (January 10th) by the stewards for using his whip in an incorrect place.
Pretty Star's jockey Wayne Hutchinson was on the receiving end of a two-day suspension (January 10th and 11th) for careless riding.
Ulusaba produced his customary late flourish to land the spoils in the Stan James Mandarin Handicap Chase.
The Ferdy Murphy-trained 9 to 1 chance made steady headway from off the pace under rising star Keith Mercer to go a close fourth over the second-last, having had nine of his 16 rivals still in front of him over the cross fence five from home.
Steadily reeling his rivals in all the way up the run-in, Ulusaba came between rivals to deny French raider Juveigneur by a neck in the three-mile contest despite his rider dropping his whip after the last.
"They're a great pair, Keith and this horse," said Murphy. "We knew there'd be plenty of pace today and the kid's got a good brain and knew that he wouldn't have to do anything too quickly.
"I'd like to think Ulusaba might make a Cheltenham horse, maybe the Kim Muir, although it would be a shame to break up the partnership as Keith wouldn't be qualified to ride in it."
Jacques Ricou, the rider of Juveigneur, was hit with a three-day ban (January 10th-12th) after he was adjudged to have used his whip with excessive frequency and without giving his mount time to respond.
Cetti's Warbler once again showed that stamina is her strong suit when staying on into fourth place in the novice handicap chase.
The Renee Robeson-trained grey mare needs plenty of cut in the ground to show her best form and appears to be crying out for a step up in trip from this two miles, six and a half furlongs.
