Star heads Betfair six

Kauto Star will face five rivals in his bid to land a third consecutive running of the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls’ 2007 Gold Cup winner dispelled any doubts his ability was waning with an authoritative display at Down Royal earlier this month.

Last year’s renewal saw Kauto Star have a protracted duel with Exotic Dancer up the Haydock straight and Jonjo O’Neill’s chaser will be back to have another crack at his old adversary.

Robert Ogden’s eight-year-old ran a blinder on his comeback run to finish second to Knowhere in the Old Roan Chase.

Ollie Magern, so narrowly denied a third victory in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, will run in the race for the fourth year in a row, while Donald McCain’s Cloudy Lane also lines up.

The field is completed by the David Pipe-trained Tamarinbleu, winner of the Boylesports Gold Cup and Victor Chandler Chase last season.