Walsh hoping Kauto shines at Ascot Ruby Walsh hopes everything goes well for Kauto Star in the Commercial First Ascot Chase tomorrow to set up a mouthwatering clash with Denman in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Walsh plumped for last year´s blue-riband winner when asked to make an early decision regarding his Cheltenham mount by the connections of Denman last week. And after watching from afar aboard Regal Heights in the Aon Chase at Newbury last Saturday, he knows how stiff a task Kauto Star faces if he is to land back-to-back renewals of the Festival showpiece. Walsh said: "They should go a real good gallop tomorrow and it will be a good race, but that´s why the sponsors put the money up. "He jumped super in the King George and he has been very good the two times he has been to Haydock. "He was good at Aintree this year so touch-wood he will jump the same again. "He´s a wonderful horse and hopefully he can show his class tomorrow. "It´s right-handed, and obviously I would prefer it if it was left-handed, but it is what it is and we will have to deal with it. "I suppose Monet´s Garden is the main threat, we beat Racing Demon fair and square in the King George. "If they hold their form I would imagine Monet´s will be the one to beat. "I don´t know if Paul (Nicholls) has left as much to work on as he did with Denman, I was that far behind him last week I couldn´t see him blowing!" Barring a major shock in Berkshire, the real test will be when Kauto Star comes up against Denman in the Gold Cup. "Nobody knows which one is best until they run against each other, everybody has their opinion and that is what makes racing great," Walsh told At The Races. "What do you do when you are caught between two wonderful horses? You stick with the horse you have won a Gold Cup on. "I don´t think Denman has to have it soft either, he won a two-mile beginners´ chase at Exeter against Penzance. "He is not slow at all, people make him out to be slower than he is. "They are two wonderful horses and I hope they both get to Cheltenham when we will see what happens. "I hope one of them wins and I just hope it´s mine."
