Nicholls Not Losing Sleep Over Kauto Jumping

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has reaffirmed his belief that Kauto Star is a horse of a 'lifetime', despite his occasionally heart-stopping jumping technique.

The impressive King George VI Chase winner has won three Grade One events already this season, but he could yet send his earnings into the stratosphere.

He has won the first two legs of the #1million bonus on offer from Betfair and if he he can land the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, he will surely go down as one of steeplechasing's greats ? at the age of seven.

However, the sceptics still linger and the way he belted the fourth-last at Kempton and walked throughout the final fence has given them even more ammunition.

'It was a great race to watch despite a few heart-stopping moments,' said Nicholls.

'He won nicely though and he seems to be progressing the right way.

'He's fine this morning and he was OK last night. He's going to have three weeks off now and we'll let him down and give him a little break before we build him up towards Cheltenham.

'It was pretty nerve-wracking in the build up to the race as we didn't want anything to go wrong, but he is pretty solid in his jumping even if he makes mistakes.

'It would obviously be a lot better if he didn't make them but, as Ruby (Walsh) said, he is a much better horse going left-handed, he is much happier going that way and his best jumping was at Haydock when we took our time with him over three miles.'

He is now set to have one more run in possibly the AON Chase at Newbury on February 10 before his tilt at the Gold Cup.

'Hopefully, we can adopt the same tactics as at Haydock at Newbury and Cheltenham and they will bring out the best in him,' Nicholls told At The Races.

'Some of his jumping was spectacular, as it was at Sandown (in the Tingle Creek).

'At home Ruby jumped him over 10 plain fences and 10 open ditches and he was foot-perfect so there is no point carrying on schooling with him and risking injury. It will come in time.

'See More Business was a bit hairy early in his career, but eventually the penny dropped and I'm convinced, as is Ruby, that his jumping will be more assured left-handed.

'Going back to Haydock, he never made a mistake that day.

'We've just got to look after him and take it day by day and try and get him ready for the spring.

'It will possibly the Aon Chase next for him, three miles at Newbury should suit him well, but if the ground was testing and the weather wasn't right I wouldn't be worried if he went straight to Cheltenham.

'As Ruby said after Sandown he is a horse in a lifetime and I wouldn't disagree.'

(C) PA Sport