racingbetter.co.uk
racing news  

racing_news/

 

Big Race is on as Kauto Takes on Long Run in King George
15/12/11

So often when major sporting events are built up to be the ‘ultimate’ contest the ensuing match is a disappointment, but it will be a major surprise if there aren’t some very serious fireworks when last year’s hero Long Run takes on the four-time winner Kauto Star in what is building up to be a great race for the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, writes Elliot Slater.

Kauto Star
© racing-images.co.uk

Kauto Star

With confirmation that trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Clive Smith have given the green light for Kauto Star to have another head-to-head with the horse that slammed him in the race in last year’s renewal before going on to beat him in similarly impressive fashion in the Cheltenham Gold Cup a couple of months later, the dream contest that the bookies had so long wanted has made their collective Christmas wishes come true. Those following the online Kempton odds will be looking forward to the race.

When Kauto Star ended last term being pulled up at Punchestown the prospect of seeing him back at Kempton this season with a serious chance of winning the race for an amazing fifth time seemed nothing more than a flight of fantasy. But following the 11-year-old’s incredible seasonal reappearance effort when he slammed Long Run by eight-lengths at Haydock in November making every post a winning one in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, all of a sudden the rivalry has been very much renewed and punters and bookmakers alike will focus on nothing else come the big day.

There is added spice to the contest with Kauto Star’s venerable stable companion Master Minded also set to take his chance and race over three-miles for the first time in a career that has seen him dominate the two-mile division for much of the last four years. Nicky Henderson’s Long Run still remains a strong favourite to follow up last season’s win and is a best priced 6/4, with Kauto Star supported down to 9/2, Master Minded 5/1, last year’s Arkle Chase winner Captain Chris 8/1, and it’s 14/1 bar.


tumpline internet home | associations | bloodstock agents | bookmakers | information | horses | jockeys | links | overseas | portals | racecourses | race horse trainers | sales | studs | syndicates | submit site email
© racingbetter.co.uk • 91 Tribune Drive • Carlisle • CA3 0LE