Exceptional Kauto Star can reign supreme in King George
He’s already taken the King George four times, to go with two Gold Cups, and you do not win that many top class races without being quite exceptional.
I think the biggest danger to Kauto Star is Kauto Star! I don’t see any of his rivals troubling him and only if he goes and does something silly can I envisage defeat.
I mean Long Run is second favourite, on the basis of finishing third in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham off 11-1.
If you gave Kauto Star that weight in a Paddy Power, I could see him winning by at least a hundred yards. There has been inspired support for Paul Nicholls’ other runner, The Nightingale.
I obviously know the horse well, having won on him on that fateful day when breaking my leg at Down Royal. He’s decent in his own right, but you couldn’t mention him in the same breath as Kauto.
When The Nightingale was 20-1, and buckets of rain was forecast to fall, then he was worth something each-way, but the value has long gone.
I’m very confident Kauto will win, although having to admit it is a lot easier to be bullish when you are actually not riding.
That said, I believe he’s different class to these and want him to produce a brilliant effort and give me real hope we might just team-up and land a third Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Paul’s Brampour is a real talking horse, in the opening juvenile hurdle, so let’s see if he can live up to his exalted reputation.
This will be his first run over hurdles, having arrived on the back of finishing runner-up in a Listed event at Deauville in August.
He has schooled well and I can tell you Paul absolutely loves this horse. I’d imagine he’ll be a short price and so you could do worse than have a pop for the Triumph Hurdle.
Hopefully, after the race today, you might have a valuable docket burning a hole in your pocket.
Pepe Simo haa a great chance in the novice chase. He won a beginners chase at Sandown and then beat Noland on the all-weather at Kempton. He’s a horse with loads of pace and will love the track.
Paul’s The Reformer is probably best watched in the novice hurdle. I saw him win at Exeter and he shaped like a true stayer, who would have been favoured by the rain of it came.
Which brings us to the Christmas Hurdle and the second appearance of the season of the champion hurdler, Binocular.
I was at Newbury when he could only manage third to Peddlers Cross and Starluck, but thought he looked big that day and would expect a much improved performance.
Paul runs a decent sort in Escot’men, which I won on at Chepstow in October. You’d have to say he has to improve to beat some of these.
I hope Overturn runs a cracking race from the front, good enough to see him take his chance in the Champion Hurdle. If that’s the case then his presence at Cheltenham will ensure an end-to-end gallop and no hiding place.
That’s enough about Kempton, let’s have a look at Ireland for the weekend. Willie Mullins doesn’t have the strongest of hands at Naas today, but has possibilities nonetheless.
He has a couple in the maiden hurdle, but that looks competitive and Strain Of Fame, in a handicap hurdle, gives me the impression he is more of a summer horse.
Ballyhaunis, however, who is improving fast and won well at Listowel and Thurles, has a life in the Listed hurdle.
And then there’s Allee Garde, who has been costly to follow, in the bumper. Don’t despair and just remember how often Hedgehunter got beaten and then ended up landing an Aintree Grand National.
Willie’s Golden Silver is impossible to oppose in the Grade 2 chase at Fairyhouse tomorrow. Both Let Yourself Go and Rubi Light like to bowl along at the front and that will play into the hands of Golden Silver.
Willie takes the wraps off French-import Sous Les Cieux in the maiden hurdle and a big run is expected. He was third at Auteuil in May and a recent schooling session at Thurles was very pleasing.
Willie’s Lovethehigherlaw, winner of a point-to-point at Bandon, will take beating in the bumper. He goes nicely and is well able to gallop.
