Fitz keeps Kauto ride

Paul Nicholls has confirmed Mick Fitzgerald will keep the ride on Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Kauto Star at Newbury on Saturday.

The lightly-raced six-year-old is one of three entries for the trainer in the totepool Game Spirit Chase, which has been reopened until 9.15am tomorrow after only eight initial entries were received.

“Kauto is fine and will run. We’ve also got Armaturk and Andreas in the race,” Nicholls told Teletext.

“Mick Fitzgerald will keep the ride on Kauto as long as he isn’t needed by Nicky Henderson anywhere else.”

In the absence of the injured Ruby Walsh, Fitzgerald partnered the French-bred to a decisive victory in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and he now heads the betting for the two-mile showpiece at a general price of 7-4.