Kauto Star continues to shine

Racing : Kauto Star carved his name into racing folklore with an imperious display in winning his second Stan James King George…

Racing: Kauto Star carved his name into racing folklore with an imperious display in winning his second Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Paul Nicholls' pride and joy oozed class for the whole of the three-mile trip as he tracked the pace-setters, jumping for fun in the process.

Exotic Dancer made an early bid for home, but jockey Ruby Walsh moved up menacingly alongside before effortlessly striding clear up the straight to win by 11 lengths.

Our Vic stayed on again to take second behind the 4-6 favourite, with last year's runner-up Exotic Dancer only third this time.

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Racing Demon and Our Vic set what only appeared to be a steady gallop, but it was still too much for Hi Cloy, who was always struggling to go the pace.

My Way De Solzen was even more disappointing and was pulled up, as was the winner's stablemate, Taranis.

When Tony McCoy and Exotic Dancer took up the running half a mile out, it appeared connections had come up with a new tactic having chased home Kauto Star on so many occasions.

But it made no difference as Walsh always had him in his sights and the champion was not extended at any time, putting in a leap reminiscent of Desert Orchid at the last to seal the race.

Earlier, Straw Bear (9-2) bounced back to his best to deny Harchibald a second win in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Kempton this afternoon.

Nick Gifford's six-year-old looked cooked over the second-last as Harchibald and Paul Carberry loomed up large.

But despite going half a length up, Harchibald's stride began to shorten as McCoy galvanised his mount after the last to get up by a head.

McCoy said: "He was disappointing at Cheltenham last time and I thought we would ride him a little different today in a race we would run to try to suit us and not Harchibald.

"Harchibald is a very good horse and the plan was to have a little bit to battle with at the finish.

"I wanted to get him (Harchibald) upsides between the second-last and the last. We did have a bit left for a battle and mine's a good horse too and deserved to win a good race," he added.