Nicholls Hails Star Performer

Paul Nicholls has expressed his delight at Kauto Star´s performance in the King George VI Chase, believing he has finally silenced any doubters.

The highest-rated chaser in training trounced his rivals in winning the Boxing Day showpiece for the second successive year.

However, Nicholls did say it was unlikely Kauto Star would ever return to the minimum distance again, despite beating subsequent Cheltenham hero Voy Por Ustedes in last year´s Tingle Creek.

'I´m thrilled for the horse. Anyone who had any doubts about him - he put them in their place yesterday,' said Nicholls.

'He did everything right, he jumped well and it was a professional performance.

'He´s in fine form this morning.

'I don´t think I have ever had a horse like him.

'He is finally being given the credit he deserves and I enjoyed watching it yesterday.

'You can ride him any way you like, depending on how the race is run.

'I think his days of going back to two miles are over now. One thing he does is stay strongly.

'I wouldn´t mind running him over two and a half or two-six as a prep run for a big race but he won´t go back to two.

'It´s not set in stone where he will run next, I´ll have to discuss it with Clive (Smith, owner). He will only have one run, if at all, before Cheltenham, he told At The Races.'

Rider Ruby Walsh was also full of superlatives for Kauto Star and believes he is much more mature this season.

'They went a tremendous gallop, My Way De Solzen was out of the race early, Racing Demon was struggling down the back and when I landed in front four out, I knew stamina wasn´t going to be an issue having won a Gold Cup,' said Walsh.

'When he was in front he wasn´t doing a whole lot but he has always hung to the left, even the first day I rode him at Newbury - it´s just something he does.

'When we got the the last I finally got it right for a change and he pinged it and took off again.

'He´s a lot more relaxed this year, when I was alongside Exotic Dancer I had to take a pull but when I took him in behind he settled straight away.

'Every time I wanted to get a bit closer I just gave him a little squeeze and then I had to tell him to slow down again, he´s turning into a child´s ride really,' he told BBC Sport.

British Horseracing Authority head of handicapping Phil Smith raised Kauto Star to his highest official rating following the romp.

The seven-year-old is now rated 180 - up from 179 - and is at a level only equalled by Moscow Flyer in the last 15 years.

Smith said: 'You´d have to say that was his best yet, he was flawless.

'His jockey was waving to the crowd in the final yards, while the second, third and fourth horses were all ridden out to the line, so I have given him credit for the ease of his victory.

'Along with Moscow Flyer, it would be the best performance in my time as a handicapper.

'New tactics were employed with Exotic Dancer which perhaps didn´t work, but there is no reason to think that the other key performers have not run their races, and I was very happy with Our Vic and Racing Demon.

'I strongly suspect that a horse will have to put in a performance of above 180 to win this season´s Gold Cup, with a truer pace more likely.'

(C) PA Sport