RACING/KING GEORGE PREVIEW:FOR SUCH a self-consciously tough sport, racing is a sucker for sentiment and if Kauto Star can score a unique fifth King George success on Monday then Kempton's drainage system will be on full alert for all the tears it will generate.
Already established as one of steeplechasing’s greatest ever stars – maybe the best seen since Arkle – Kauto Star has once already this season appeared to turn back time.
The veteran superstar looked a busted flush at the end of last season when having to be pulled up at Punchestown. But a return to action at Haydock last month saw him comprehensively put his Gold Cup and King George successor Long Run to the sword.
Rarely have scenes like the one that welcomed him back to the Haydock winner’s enclosure been ever seen. Even the hardened professional pair of Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls were ecstatic. But that will pale into insignificance should Kauto Star manage to rise one more epic performance.
The difference is that this time there will be no fitness excuses for Long Run. The youngster showed plenty of grit to fight on at Haydock where Nicholls admitted to having Kauto spot on. So sentiment apart, the cold logical way of looking at this King George is that Long Run will be much harder for the sentimental favourite to beat this time.
Another element to this race will be the presence of Kauto Star’s stable companion Master Minded, a brilliant duel-two mile champion, who tackles three miles for the first time. Champion Chase winners have a mixed record when trying to stretch their stamina. Edredon Bleu managed it, while Dunkirk failed and died in the attempt to hold off Arkle.
Should Master Minded stay properly he will become a major player, but in the build-up to the big Christmas prize, it is easy to pitch this King George as a match-up between the veteran great and the young champion.
Long Run has eight lengths to make up from Haydock and bookmakers believe he will improve that and more and Walsh is in no doubt Nicky Henderson’s star is the one to beat.
“Long Run is obviously going to improve and Paul had made no secret of the fact he had Kauto spot on (at Haydock). I’d imagine Nicky Henderson had bigger things in mind and he got caught on the day – he’s the one we have to beat and he’ll be sharper and fitter,” the Irishman said yesterday.
Henderson indicated there will be no excuses fitness-wise this time and said yesterday: “He jumped five fences this morning, he did his work yesterday and everything has gone totally according to plan. He’s definitely straight now. How straight he was at Haydock I don’t know but he’s definitely there now.”
That will be enough for many cold-eyed professionals to weigh in on Long Run’s side, especially since the supporting cast appears no more formidable than last year when he first burst into the limelight.
Diamond Harry will have Barry Geraghty on his back but appears a less than natural jumper while Captain Chris is still very much an unknown quantity. That’s the last thing that can be said about the big two. Quite what the eventual outcome will be however remains a lot more uncertain.
Walsh will appropriately enough be on Rock On Ruby in the Christmas Hurdle where the Henderson team will be hoping for a bounce back to form by the former champion, Binocular. He has to reverse Fighting Fifth form with Overturn but appears to like Kempton’s flat challenge.
“When he ran at Newcastle, it was the same situation as when Long Run ran at Haydock. He came on tons for his run in the Fighting Fifth last year and he’s in great shape. Overturn is bound to go a good gallop so there’ll be no lack of pace.” Henderson reported yesterday.
Kempton’s other Grade One pot is the Feltham novices chase where Henderson could initiate a top-flight hat-trick with his Cheltenham festival winner Bobs Worth. Barry Geraghty’s mount faces the former high-class staying hurdler Grands Crus in another mouth-watering clash.
