Horse Racing: Kauto Tipped to Shine

Kauto Star steps back onto the big stage for the King George VI Chase on Tuesday and there are few good reasons for opposing him, although one or two chinks can be found in the armour of Paul Nicholls' standard bearer, who is already being mentioned in the same breath as four-time King George winner Desert Orchid.

An error at the second last in his cruise to victory from Voy Por Ustedes in the Tingle Creek at Sandown will give his opponents a little hope that he can be toppled but Kauto Star's jumping down the tricky railway fences at the Esher course had been fine and I hope he can continue his upward spiral with his fourth easy win of the season.

On two-mile form, Monet's Garden has plenty to find, having been beaten by Voy Por Ustedes in last season's Arkle at Cheltenham, and he has yet to run over today's distance of three miles over fences. He had decent, if not quite top drawer, hurdles form over the trip and he beat one King George rival Monkerhostin over two and a half miles at Windsor two years ago.

Monkerhostin, however, will be 8lb better off and is a tough competitor, having been runner-up to Kicking King in this race last year when it was run at Sandown. That form gives him ground to make up on Kauto Star if a line through L'Ami can be believed and Monkerhostin was beaten into third by Racing Demon in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time.

Racing Demon, who jumps significantly to his right, may find Monkerhostin a different kettle of fish this time as Philip Hobbs has spoken as though he has been preparing his nine-year-old specifically for the King George, whereas Racing Demon had been readied for the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in October (where he unseated his rider) so enjoyed a fitness advantage at Huntingdon. Monkerhostin may well emerge as the biggest threat to Kauto Star.

Front-running Ollie Magern, who was miles behind Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last time, should ensure a decent test but he has shown a tendency to jump to his left and that can be his undoing, while Exotic Dancer needs to step up a level from his two smart handicap wins at Cheltenham.

Just as Kauto Star would qualify for a million-pound bonus were he to add the King George and Gold Cup to his Betfair win, so Straw Bear is chasing a similar extra incentive, having won the wbx-sponsored Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

He needs to land Kempton's Christmas Hurdle (1.45) and the Champion at Cheltenham to qualify and his connections should have been buoyed by Noel Meade's decision to keep Iktitaf in Ireland and send Jazz Messenger over instead. Iktitaf has already beaten Straw Bear and may well have done so again, whereas Jazz Messenger finished some way adrift of Nick Gifford's gelding in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham.

But even in Iktitaf's absence, Straw Bear faces a stern rival in Afsoun, the impressive winner of a handicap under top weight on his reappearance at Newbury. Afsoun appears a stronger horse this season and the Triumph Hurdle fifth should be a decent price to topple Straw Bear.

Nicholls takes full advantage of mares and age allowance for Bold Fire in the Feltham Novices' Chase (1.10) and the 20lb she receives should mean she goes very close. I liked the way Boychuk dismissed Gungadu at Newbury last time and will row in with him again.

Elsewhere, at Wincanton, Nietzsche gave the impression at Newbury last time that he would be capable of winning in handicap company. A mark of 91 for his first attempt does not look insurmountable in the 1.35 at Wincanton.

Thenford Star was produced by Alan King to win on her first start for him with plenty in hand at Wincanton recently. She should be able to follow up off a 10lb higher mark in the 1.20 at Huntingdon, where Ma Furie looks the type to relish the test of jumping on a sharp course in the novices' chase at 1.50. She jumped superbly when beating Novacella at Fontwell but was continually reined back after each fence and had Timmy Murphy let her go she could have won by a very long way.

At Towcester, Mister Potter is a speculative wager in the bumper at 3.30. He looked a staying type in Irish point-to-points and again when keeping on to be seventh at Warwick on his first run in this country. It looks significant that Richard Lee entered him in five races over the Christmas period and chose this assignment on a stiff course for him.

Franco is from the Ann Brooks stable that has been doing well in recent weeks and looked unlucky to be caught near the finish when last seen at Market Rasen. He has been off the course nearly a year but Brooks has shown that she can have a horse ready and Franco should go well at a decent price in the 12.30 at the Lincolnshire course.