Kauto and Walsh set to deliver

Kempton, Limerick and Down Royal previews:Ruby Walsh will be treating every one of Kauto Star's rivals in the Stan James King George VI Chase with the utmost respect.

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 yesterday following a shoulder injury and missed riding Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase, will be taking nothing for granted on St Stephen's Day.

"Unlike last year when there were few horses making up the numbers there doesn't appear to be any this year. Every horse running has a right to be there," said Walsh who returned to action unscathed when third on Paramount, trained by his father Ted, to surprise winner Sunshine Guest in the Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles.

"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," added Walsh.

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 said: "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."

Despite missing out on partnering the odds-on favourite, Thomas is happy with his lot. "The ground was very soft at Haydock last time and (Taranis) just struggled in it," the Welshman explained.

"The time before that in Ireland he was very good and he is a horse that is progressing. The strong gallop should suit and touch wood he should give me a really good ride around there. If Exotic was ever going to beat Kauto Star Haydock was going to be the day.

"We gave him something to aim at and I think that will be as close as he will ever get really."

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.