Walsh mindful of Kauto challenge
Ruby Walsh poured cold water on claims Kauto Star will have it all his own way in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton.
There will only be six challengers to jump racing’s biggest name and he mastered several of them, including old foe Exotic Dancer, in the Kempton showpiece 12 months ago.
But Walsh, who returned to the saddle competitively on Sunday following a shoulder injury and missed riding Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase, will be taking nothing for granted on Boxing Day.
“Unlike last year when there were are few horses making up the numbers there doesn’t appear to be any this year,” he said.
“Every horse running has a right to be there.
“It will be a good race. It doesn’t look like there’s going to be a huge amount of pace but I suppose Our Vic is the only front-runner.
“He travelled well (at Haydock), jumped super and picked up and did exactly what you’d expect him to do.
“I’d say Exotic Dancer would surprise a few – I don’t think Jonjo O’Neill’s horses are going as badly as people think they are.
“People are reading a bit more into that than they should,” Walsh told At The Races.
Kauto Star’s trainer Paul Nicholls nominated stablemate Taranis as the dark horse in the line-up.
He will be the mount of Sam Thomas, who steered Kauto Star to victory at Haydock a few weeks ago.
Nicholls told Radio Five Live: “He (Kauto Star) did his final piece of fast work (on Saturday morning) in competition with Taranis and he went very well.
“It is always hard to draw comparisons with other eras but I would say that up to now he is the best we have trained.
“It’s a small but select field. Exotic Dancer seems to be getting closer to him now but I think the track will suit us better than him.
“He’s beaten all the others really, the only one he has hasn’t run against is Taranis.
“We’ve got a big chance again.”
Connections of the remainder are not kidding themselves about their task, although O’Neill has given Exotic Dancer a clean bill of health.
“He’s never been wrong, but he’s never beaten Kauto Star either,” said the Jackdaws Castle handler.
“The horse is in grand old form, but I’m not really sure Kempton is the track for him – I would prefer it to be at Cheltenham.
“Probably his best run was at Aintree (when winning the Betfair Bowl) on fast ground last season so that should not worry him at all.”
Of My Way De Solzen, trainer Alan King said: “He’s done a lot of work since the Betfair Chase (when fifth) and has showed what a high-class work-horse he is.
“It will be a big ask once again but I’m sure he’ll improve a fair bit from his Haydock run.”
David Pipe’s Our Vic has already found Exotic Dancer too good – and was also narrowly beaten by Taranis in the Ryanair Chase – but produced a fine performance first time out last year at Wetherby.
“It’s probably the hardest race he has run in in his life,” said Pipe.
“I think his betting shows what sort of chance he has but that said, he does run very well fresh and three miles around Kempton should suit him perfectly.”
Racing Demon was third 12 months ago and handler Henrietta Knight reported: “The ground is going to be fine and we’re no different to anyone else in our respect for Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer.
“It’s a carbon-copy situation to last year and we’ll be happy to see him run a good race and get into the money.”
