Kauto Star poised for Aon assault

KAUTO STAR looks more likely to contest the Aon Chase than the two-mile totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on the same day.

Both options remain open but Paul Nicholls admits he would rather see Kauto Star tackle the longer trip on February 10 as he warms up for an assault on the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“I want to run him in the Aon over three miles. The ground is drying up and if it was absolutely desperate then we probably wouldn’t run him at all,” he said.