Kauto Heads High-Class Betfair Field

Kauto Star will face a maximum of 13 rivals in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday, the first leg of the Betfair Million.

Paul Nicholls' chaser, who beat Beef Or Salmon by 17 lengths in the Grade One event 12 months ago, will be looking to give his handler a welcome boost by returning to his brilliant best.

The champion trainer suffered a dreadful weekend, losing two promising young chasers at Cheltenham as well as his number one jockey Ruby Walsh to injury.

Kauto Star lost for the first time in 18 months on his seasonal reappearance in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree when Monet's Garden fought him off, but Nicholls warned at the time he would improve significantly for the run.

Nicholls has also entered Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Denman, but his main aim remains the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury the following weekend.

Taranis is another option for the Ditcheat team after his recent victory in the James Nicholson Chase at Down Royal

Chief opposition is expected to come from Alan King's Arkle winner My Way De Solzen, who is stepping up to three miles for the first time over fences, and Kauto Star's old adversary Exotic Dancer, who chased him home in both the King George and the Gold Cup

Charlie Hall Chase winner Ollie Magern will be hoping to get closer than last year when he could only finish fourth.

Ferdy Murphy's Aces Four could continue his build-up towards a crack at the King George, while Madison De Berlais is David Pipe's sole entry.

Beef Or Salmon, runner-up for the last two years, is once again entered, along with Charlie Swan's Offshore Account.

Cheltenham Gold Cup third Turpin Green may represent Nicky Richards while Monkerhostin could run for Philip Hobbs.

Carl Llewellyn's Too Forward and Peter Bowen's Yes Sir complete the line-up

Even though Denman has been given the option, joint-owner Harry Findlay admitted it is very unlikely that he will line up this weekend.

'There is some heavy rain forecast for earlier in the week, but I would imagine Kauto will be all right up there on softish ground. I'm sure that's where Kauto will be and Denman will go the week after in the Hennessy,' said Findlay.

'If it was very soft it would be a question for Paul (whether Denman runs at Haydock) and I'm sure he would want everything in his favour before Kauto runs again.

'To be honest we haven't even had a racecourse gallop into Denman because until yesterday we hadn't had any rain at all, so I think a plan for Denman may be a racecourse gallop this weekend and the Hennessy the following weekend. I think it's highly unlikely that he will run at Haydock.

'Heavy ground could change it though as it would rule a lot out but not us,' he told At The Races.

Nigel Twiston-Davies confirmed dual Charlie Hall winner Ollie Magern on-course for Haydock.

A gelding with a fine record when fresh, Ollie Magern collected his second victory in the Wetherby showpiece having been off since finishing seventh in Kauto Star's King George.

'He's running at the weekend and doing very well,' said the trainer.

Asked if he was worried about the possibility of the ?bounce' factor, when horses run badly on their second run after a long absence, Twiston-Davies said: 'No, it is a while since his run at Wetherby now. He ran well when he was fourth in the race last year and is ready to go.'

(C) PA Sport