No fitness fears for Kauto Star
The champion trainer’s string have been forced inside in recent days due to snow, but he at least managed to get the brilliant 10-year-old up his famous hill yesterday morning.
But despite the interruptions, Nicholls believes the four-times King George winner will want for nothing in the fitness department on St Stephen’s Day.
“It’s the worst weather we’ve had at home by a long way – we have never had snow lying on the ground like this – and apart from our gallops, nothing has been salted and you can’t ride them (horses) anywhere,” said Nicholls.
“The only day we couldn’t work them at all was Friday but we’ve been able to get them on the horsewalker for a couple of hours, that sort of thing.
“But Kauto was out this morning and he did his couple of canters up the hill.
“We’re back to normal now and for Kauto, there’ll be no excuses for fitness.”
Kempton’s clerk of the course Barney Clifford must now worry mainly about the weather forecast after a peek under the covers on the jumps course revealed good news.
Clifford has kept the grass under wraps for some days now in an attempt to thwart the cold in time for the weekend.
“I had a look with some of the jockeys, including Sam Thomas, and the ground is perfectly raceable,” said Clifford.
“As a going report I would say it is just on the slow side of good.
“Now we’ve got the other problems to deal with, such as the snow, but I would say at least half the volume of snow has now melted.
“It could be snowing or sleeting tonight and we’re taking the same approach of taking it day by day, as it’s a moveable feast.”
Amy Starkey, Kempton’s managing director, added: “We will be doing everything we can to get racing on for Boxing Day.
“Luckily we’ve had to deal with snow before, so we’ve been able to build up relationships.
“We would be able to get three JCBs in to clear snow if we needed to, and everyone here is so committed to work as hard as possible.
“If Boxing Day has to be abandoned, there can be arrangements made to run the King George and the Christmas Hurdle on the following day.”
Nicky Henderson, meanwhile, decided Punchestowns did not quite have the required experience over fences to run in the big Christmas feature.
The Judy Wilson-owned seven-year-old was a top-class staying hurdler, finding only Big Buck’s too strong in the World Hurdle of 2009.
Sent chasing last season, he impressively won his first two starts, including the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.
However, despite being sent off the 2-1 favourite in the RSA Chase in March, he could only finish fifth behind Weapon’s Amnesty.
“I’m aiming Punchestowns at the Mandarin at Newbury on December 29,” Henderson said.
“We just decided that with just three runs over fences the King George is not his race at the moment. There is the opportunity of a nice race at Newbury over three miles for intermediates and if he comes through that we’ll think of moving up whole scale.”
