Kauto Star repeated his success in the 2008 running of the JNwine.com Champion Chase with a convincing if hard-fought success in the mud at Down Royal.
Up the straight the three miler developed into a three horse war with China Rock and Sizing Europe laying down their claims but the dual Gold Cup winner showed his class to see the trip out best, prevailing by four lengths from Sizing Europe. The latter didn't jump as well as he can whilst Kauto Star negotiated his fences as well as he has ever done.
An understandably delighted winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: "Having had the fall in the Gold Cup it was a worry but he jumped great today. He was very unlucky in the Gold Cup as he made a mistake and paid for it heavily.
"We done a lot of work on his jumping at home. We'll know at the end of the week how much this race has taken out of him and we'll decide on a Hennessy bid then.
"We've left plenty to work on and don't forget he beat two decent horses there today. If he doesn't go for the Hennessy he'll go straight for the King George. Ruby was chuffed to bits with him and hopefully we'll be back here next year.
Meanwhile Henry de Bromhead said of Sizing Europe: "I'm very pleased, Andrew said he slipped into the first fence and after that he was brilliant. I'll have to talk to Ann and Alan (Potts, the owners) but I know they'd like to run in the King George."
Market reaction saw Ladbrokes go 5/4 about Kauto Star for the King George whilst Sean Graham go 7/4 and William Hill go 7/4. Sean Graham go 9/2 about Kauto Star for the Cheltenham Gold Cup whilst Ladbrokes are 7/2.
Ladbrokes go 8/1 the double Kauto Star for the King George and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
William Hill are no change at 7/1 for the Hennessy about Kauto Star. They still have Denman at 5/1 favourite for the Newbury highlight.
Stan James are 5/1 Kauto Star for the Cheltenham Gold Cup whilst they are 5/4 from 7/4 about him for the King George.
