Nicholls duo ‘in really good order’

ALMOST 12 months have passed since Kauto Star’s dethroning by Long Run in the last William Hill King George VI Chase, but trainer Paul Nicholls believes Kempton racegoers will see a different horse on Monday.

Kauto Star resumes his quest for a historic fifth King George, with connections taking great encouragement from his reversal of form over his considerably younger rival in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

The heroic eight-length defeat of Nicky Henderson’s Long Run last month obliterated the depressing memory of Kauto Star being pulled up at Punchestown in May, and persuaded Nicholls and owner Clive Smith to allow him to join stablemate Master Minded in the Christmas showdown.