Confidence high in Kauto camp

Clive Smith has every confidence in Kauto Star landing back-to-back King George VI Chases at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

While the seven-year-old’s owner feels the turning track might not be ideal, he believes Kauto Star’s undoubted quality should see him home in front in the Stan James-sponsored feature.

Smith said: “It’s a right-handed track for him, and it is a fast one.

“It is the one that there could be a problem for him on, but he won it well last year and I’ll think he’ll do it again.

“I just think it’s a quick track and the bends seem to be quite severe and it’s right-handed, which is the main issue.

“He’s won the Tingle Creek twice right-handed so perhaps there is nothing to worry about. He’s got the speed and I think he’ll be right there, I really do.”

Among the likely opposition is old rival Exotic Dancer, who was finishing behind him for the fourth time when second in the Betfair Chase.

Smith added: “The ground suited him very well at Haydock and probably didn’t really suit us 100%.

“Tony McCoy said Barry Geraghty made a good job (on Exotic Dancer) but you could be trying to get past Kauto for a mile and you won’t.

“He really thinks Kauto is some horse to pass, so hopefully we can hold Exotic Dancer back again.

“Sam Thomas rode him so well at Haydock, and illustrated that you can take it up on him some way out.

“Ruby (Walsh) has always been learning on him and he’s a wonderful jockey, so I don’t think he’ll fear taking it up if, at the right time, it suits.”

Providing things go to plan in the King George, Smith suggested the racing public might see Kauto Star in February before he attempts to win another Gold Cup in March.

“We might well consider a race at Ascot in mid-February. We’ll take it one race at a time, though,” Smith told At The Races.

“We’ll get this race on Boxing Day out of the way and see if he comes back fit and well.”

Kauto Star remains a rock-solid 4-5 favourite with the sponsors for Kempton’s December 26 highlight.

Bookmakers find it hard to split him and stablemate Denman for the Gold Cup, yet Smith still feels his charge holds the aces.

Of Denman, he said: “He’s started to show his true potential and he’s a tremendous relentless galloper and he’s a very, very fine horse.

“(But) John Francome was saying he thought we could still win and Jim McGrath was saying he thought we had the best horse. I truly believe that.

“They said at the yard last year that he would improve as the year went on and I think there is every sign that he is improving.”