Kauto's Star In The Ascendancy

Kauto Star looked every inch the superstar his powerful connections believe him to be when powering to a most impressive success in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Sent off the well-backed 11-10 favourite, the Clive Smith-owned six-year-old jumped with spectacular fluency and soon settled into a comfortable rhythm, with big-race partner Ruby Walsh content to sit in the middle of the pack.

Ollie Magern adopted his customary front-running role and seemed to be enjoying himself at the head of affairs in company with Iris's Gift, who jumped well in the main before fading out of contention as the six-strong field turned for home for the final time.

While Tony McCoy appeared to be travelling well aboard French raider L'Ami, it was also evident that Walsh was more than happy with the way Kauto Star was going, and as the second-last obstacle loomed large, the distress signals were being sent out by all bar the Paul Nicholls-trained chaser.

Walsh was careful not to play his hand too soon, however, and waited until the 18th and final fence before asking his partner to settle the issue.

Kauto Star responded in impressive fashion and absolutely flew the last before easing to an emphatic 17-length success.

Irish hope Beef Or Salmon (4-1) boxed on gamely from the rear to snatch second, while Francois Doumen's L'Ami took third, a further length behind the front two.

Kauto Star's exciting performance clearly underlined the youngster is blessed with a fair helping of stamina as well as some impressive speed, and his handler confessed afterwards he had always expected him to stay three miles.

Nicholls said: 'Ruby and I were never really in any real doubt about his stamina and he really did look awesome today.

'He jumped really, really well and I think just going that gear slower over the longer trips means he is able to jump that bit better.

'It looks as though we were trying to turn a potential Gold Cup horse into a Queen Mother contender earlier in his career now.'

Nicholls also suggested he had been suffering from a bout of pre-race nerves but was understandably delighted with the final outcome.

'If we had got beat we would have got a fair bit of stick, but he has answered everything himself really,' he added.

'After he ran at Aintree, I had a private conversation with Ruby and I said ?this horse will win a Gold Cup possibly. He's not a Champion Chase horse'.

'He agreed with me, but we wanted to prove he stays first and that's why we came here and then go on to Kempton (for the King George).

'Ruby and I didn't really have any doubt (he would stay), but the more I read the papers on the way up here the more I thought perhaps he wouldn't.

'He's obviously a class horse, he jumps better going at that pace ? he was awesome wasn't he?

'My head lad has ridden See More Business and Charter Party ? he knows what he is talking about and he says he is probably the best horse he has ever sat on.

'He'll definitely go to Kempton next and Ruby's face said it all. Obviously he'll go to the King George if he stays right, God willing, and then we'll think about the Gold Cup in the spring.'

Kauto Star could land connections an incredible #1 million bonus if able to follow-up in the Stan James-sponsored Boxing Day feature and go on to land Cheltenham's Blue Riband event next March.

Bookmakers were impressed by his dominant performance and reacted by cutting him for both those future contests.

William Hill make him the 6-4 favourite from 3-1 for the Kempton contest on December 26 and 4-1 favourite for the Gold Cup, while totesport have cut him to 5-4 (from 7-2) for the former and 7-2 (from 10s) for the latter.

Beef Or Salmon had to settle for second behind Kingscliff in Haydock's Grade One feature 12 months ago and suffered the same fate this time.

Despite staying on strongly and responding for pressure, the nine-time top-level winner was unable to muster the same finishing kick as the winner.

But his prominent showing delighted handler Michael Hourigan, who said: 'We're very, very pleased.

'He was always on the stretch really and he just did what he does best.

'They went a serious gallop there and he is just a galloper and kept galloping.

'It will be the Lexus next (at Leopardstown on December 28) but he might have a spin over hurdles first in December just to freshen him up.

'He's not getting any younger but he's still a good horse and he's only ever won one race over hurdles so he could go for (a winners of) one if I can find one over three miles.'

Of third-placed L'Ami, McCoy said: 'I'm not really happy as there were no excuses and we were beaten out of sight.

'He's probably not quite up to that level but he's not very well handicapped off 151 either.'

While Kingscliff posted one of his best performances to land this race in 2005, the writing was on the wall a long way from home this time around and dropped well out of contention with almost a whole circuit to run.

A disappointed Robert Walford said of his mount: 'Of course I am disappointed. There is not a lot to say ? he never travelled and I would say that nothing that ran in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby has run that well since.'

? PA Sport