Nicholls: Kauto could not be better

PAUL Nicholls believes conditions are very much turning in favour of Kauto Star as the nine-year-old bids to become the first horse to regain the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup crown today.

Kauto Star looked set to dominate the blue riband for years to come when running out an impressive winner in 2007, but he had to give best to his stablemate Denman 12 months ago.

While the latter has endured well documented problems in the run-up to this year’s renewal and was a big disappointment on his Kempton comeback, Kauto Star comes into the race on the back of his third success in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.