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Racing News
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Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on the first day of the North West Masters.
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This makes the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old the best chaser around and one of the best of the last decade.
Smith said: “In my 10 years, the only horses I have had higher are Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop and Well Chief.
“You have to be impressed with Kauto’s Star performance. He is battle hardened, having won a Tingle Creek Chase (Sandown) and over Aintree’s Mildmay course where the fences are quite tricky.
“His jumping in the Betfair Chase was sensational. L’Ami was the pick of the paddock and is very consistent - he ran to 158 four times last season and I don’t see why he won’t have run to that mark again.
“I went to 173 for Kauto Star after his victory in the Grade Two Bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase (Aintree - October 22) because of doubts about what he had beaten but Armaturk (the second) has come out and run well since. Kauto Star was visually impressive then and I would now rate that form 176.
“I am being conservative about his rating now - just because of the time of the year. Kauto Star has done absolutely nothing wrong.”
Kauto Star is now after the Betfair Million bonus of 1 million which is offered by the leading betting exchange for winning the Betfair Chase, the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 16, 2007.
KAUTO STAR (FR) - THE 2006 BETFAIR CHASE WINNER
6 b g Village Star (FR) - Kauto Relka (FR) (Port Etienne (FR))
Form: 211-1F2353-112-21F-1 Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Ruby Walsh Owner: Clive Smith Breeder: Mme H Aubert
Kauto Star, a Grade Three winner over hurdles at Auteuil in , has developed into a top-class chaser. He made his British debut at Newbury in December, 2004, in an extended two and a quarter mile novice chase, and produced a fine performance, gaining an emphatic nine-length victory over Grade One Irish Champion Hurdle winner Foreman. Things did not go to plan next time in a three-runner race at Exeter in January, 2005, when he fell two out with the race at his mercy. After being remounted, he just failed to reel in the winner, but it came to light afterwards that the horse had injured his near-hind leg, and he was forced to miss the rest of the season.Kauto Star reappeared in November, 2005, when he turned in an excellent comeback effort to chase home Monkerhostin in the Grade Two William Hill Gold Cup Chase at Exeter. He improved on that run when landing the Grade One Tingle Creek Trophy Chase at Sandown over two miles the following month, staying on in fine style to score by a length and a half from Ashley Brook. The Grade One Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March was Kauto Star’s next port of call but, after tracking the leaders in the early stages, he took off too early at the third fence and hit the deck. He did not run again last season, but made his return at Aintree on October 22, over two and a half miles, in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase. Kauto Star was the most impressive winner, romping home by 21 lengths from his stable companion Armaturk, when conceding 9lb to the runner-up. He won impressively over three miles for the first time today in the 200,000 Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park and is now on target for the Betfair Million.
Race Record: Starts: 17; 1st: 8; 2nd: 4; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: 381,836
