King George target for Kauto Star
Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old confirmed his well-being with an effortless winning seasonal bow over two and a half miles at Aintree on Saturday.
Walsh said: “I was very impressed. He travelled really well and quickened up really well.
“He took a nasty fall in the Champion Chase and you’d hope he had retained all his ability – which he clearly has.
“He now needs to step up against the big horses.”
Nicholls revealed Kauto Star is “very unlikely” to take his chance in this season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, in which he got no further than the third fence in March.
Walsh is in agreement with the Ditcheat handler and suspects the six-year-old may lack the speed for the two-mile Queen Mother.
However, the jockey feels the extended three miles in the King George at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day could see Kauto Star at his brilliant best.
“He’s not as quick as Azertyuiop but he’s probably more likely to get the trip (in the King George). He might lack a gear in the Champion Chase so the King George might be the race.”
Meanwhile, talented eight-year-old Forget The Past will not be seen in racecourse action until mid-December at the earliest.
While the gelding has not suffered from any injury concerns and is currently in fine fettle, he is yet to sparkle at home so connections have elected to bide their time.
“Forget The Past is fine but he didn’t seem to be coming to hand that quickly so we are going to play it a bit slower with him,” explained trainer Michael O’Brien.
“Hopefully the Gold Cup could be an option. I was hoping In Compliance might make up into a Gold Cup horse too but we’ll see how we go.”
