Star Bonus Not An Issue

Paul Nicholls says the prospect of a #1 million windfall is not playing on his mind as Kauto Star's assault on the totesport Gold Cup moves ever closer.

The Ditcheat maestro also believes he and big-race jockey Ruby Walsh will have nothing to fear from the seven-year-old's fencing come Friday.

Kauto Star will scoop the massive bonus if landing the odds in the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile blue riband event, having won both the Betfair Chase and King George VI Chase earlier in the year.

'Funnily enough it's not (on my mind) as it's a bonus but it's nice to be in a situation to do it,' Nicholls said.

'It's good for racing and if we can win it, it'll be great.

'Obviously it would be fantastic for the whole team from the owner right down to the lads if he could win but any race at Cheltenham is hard to win.

'We've had a lot of support and everyone knows what's going on and they're all looking forward to it.'

Nicholls hopes there will be no final-fence problems at the Festival and that Kauto Star will jump as well as he is capable for the entirety of the Gold Cup.

'He does jump very well or he wouldn't have won five races ? it's just been frustrating that he's made a couple of mistakes on his last two races at the last,' he told BBC Radio Five Live.

'I've had a good chat with Ruby about it. He's not a horse that makes mistakes or jumps badly until he comes under pressure but I think we're on top of it.

'It's a different track and a different day but I'm sure he'll be fine.

'We've had two or three dry days and the forecast is good so I don't think Cheltenham will see too much rain. By next Friday it could be drying up which will suit him.'

Kauto Star remains a red-hot favourite to take his unbeaten run to six in the Festival showpiece next week.

(C) PA Sport