RUBY WALSH admits he will be preoccupied on Christmas Day with thoughts of Kauto Star and Kempton as the jockey steels himself to play a part in history.
Although Desert Orchid claimed the King George VI Chase four times between 1986 and 1990, Kauto Star can better that achievement with his fourth consecutive success this Saturday.
Walsh has been in the plate each time – even after recovering from the removal of his spleen 12 months ago to get back on his beloved horse.
The 30-year-old became the father of his first child, Isabelle, recently, but he cannot emphasise enough the importance of the King George.
“I’m always nervous about the weather at this time of year but there is not a lot you can do about it and Kempton are on top of things,” Walsh said.
“Christmas for me is always about racing and Kauto doing the business at the King George at Kempton.
“I open my presents on Christmas Day, but the only one I really care about is the Christmas present I may or may not receive on St Stephen’s Day afternoon, it’s all I can think about.”
Officials at Kempton have been printing off cricket-style Kauto “4” cards ready to be waved by the faithful, and trainer Paul Nicholls is confident the nine-year-old has blossomed after being shaken up by Imperial Commander on his seasonal bow at Haydock.
“Kauto is in great form and schooled very well this morning, it is all systems go and there really are no excuses,” he said yesterday.
“He looks great and has come on a ton for Haydock. The idea was that race was always going to mentally sharpen him up.
“Two years ago he only beat Exotic Dancer half a length and he improved. Last year he may, or may not, have won at Haydock – he didn’t perform to his best but improved afterwards.
“He has been in training a long time and a run just changes them. He looks better and is sharper and I couldn’t be happier with him at the moment.”
Owner Clive Smith said: “I was tremendously impressed with Imperial Commander at Haydock and he gave us a real scare. He is a fantastic-looking horse and looks the danger.”
Just a nose denied Imperial Commander from claiming Kauto Star’s scalp at Haydock, and jockey Paddy Brennan feels his mount can gain sweet revenge.
“It’s all systems go. I couldn’t have been any happier with his performance at Haydock. He felt great and got the trip really well,” he said. “I’d like to think he’s improved a lot since then.
“Kempton is right-handed, which is a slight question mark, but we are going there with all guns blazing.”
Kauto Star could have something to fear from Madison Du Berlais, although his trainer, David Pipe, looks like he will be happy with a place.
Go Native is bidding to go one better in the Christmas Hurdle than Punjabi, who plundered the Fighting Fifth Hurdle 12 months ago but tipped up at the second-last in this contest.
Punjabi then went on to win the Champion Hurdle, which made his mishap all the more costly as one betting exchange firm put up a €1 million bonus for any horse who can win all three races.
Davy Condon replaced the suspended Paul Carberry on Noel Meade’s Go Native at Newcastle and is in the saddle once more. He hailed the six-year-old as the best hurdler he has ridden.
“It’s brilliant of Noel and the owners to put me up on him again, I’m very grateful,” said Condon.
“Kempton should suit him well, it’s a flat track and he’s got loads of gears, he’s a real good-actioned horse and he just wants goodish ground, not firm, but good to soft is fine.”
WEATHER WATCH
THE COLD snap continues to threaten Saturday's action in Britain, with four of the six National Hunt meetings already subject to inspections this evening.
Towcester's Christmas card fell yesterday, and while temperatures across Britain are set to rise from tomorrow, there is a general feeling that the damage may already have been done with many courses covered in snow.
That is certainly the case at Sedgefield, who will be the first to take a look at conditions at 11am.
There are no problems anticipated ahead of the King George meeting at Kempton, with the frost covers seemingly doing their job.
Clerk of the course Barney Clifford said: "Looking ahead, the temperatures are due to rise from tonight and over the next three or four days. It's perfectly raceable under the covers, they keep the ground temperature high."
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)