RACING:FIVE OF the brightest names in the history of Irish steeplechasing feature on the King George VI Chase roll-of-honour, but both Sizing Europe and Forpadydeplasterer will be hoping to keep Kauto Star from occupying a unique place in the great race's history on St Stephen's Day.
Of course, Kauto Star’s attempt on a five-in-a-row is dependent on the cold snap dramatically loosening its grip before Sunday, and the omens were not promising yesterday with a noon inspection planned for today.
Covers are still in place at Kempton and the grass is raceable underneath. However, forecast low temperatures are worrying clerk of the course Barney Clifford.
“There are forecasts of minus three, minus four and minus five,” he said yesterday. “I’m afraid it is one step backwards rather than two forwards.”
The focus on Kauto Star’s attempt to out-do Desert Orchid’s King George record has been intensified by a jockey shuffle that has resulted in the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Tony McCoy taking over in the saddle.
Trainer Paul Nicholls was in upbeat form yesterday and reported Kauto Star to be in “amazing form” for his date with racing destiny.
“He won his prep very nicely and done ever so well since and he is in really good order,” Nicholls said.
“His record is incredible. That’s 14 Grade Ones he’s won. He’s won 17 races for us and never been out of the first two each time he’s got round. That speaks for itself. He’s an amazing horse and, at the moment, he’s in amazing form.
“We’re lucky to have a horse like him in the yard and that’s what we all strive for. I’m very, very lucky.
“Ruby’s (Walsh) not going to be there this time but that’s racing and one of those things,” he added.
The last horse to win the King George pre-Kauto Star was Kicking King, and along with Cottage Rake (1948), Arkle (1965), Captain Christy (1974-75) and Florida Pearl (2001), he makes up a hugely prestigious handful of Irish chasers to win the Christmas highlight.
Kicking King finished runner-up in an Arkle Trophy, but Sizing Europe arrives on the back of Cheltenham success last March and has a second attempt at three miles after running second to Kauto Star at Down Royal last month.
His trainer, Henry De Bromhead, is sending two others to Kempton for Sunday, Loosen My Load in the Grade One Feltham Chase and House Rules in a novices hurdle, but is eagerly-anticipating a bold show in the big race.
“He been in very good form and we’re very pleased with him,” said the Co Waterford-based trainer. “We hope he’s improved since his last run, but we are taking on a legend so to finish in the first three or four would be a fantastic run.”
He added: “It’s not a case of playing for places – you always want to win – but we are taking on a horse who is rated 20-odd pound higher than us. Our run in Down Royal was obviously better than that, but he (Kauto Star) seems a different horse at Kempton.”
Forpadydeplasterer is having his first start at three miles and is due to be ridden for the first time by “Choc” Thornton.
Tom Cooper’s horse hasn’t won since last year’s Arkle, but his Co Kerry-based trainer is hopeful of a big run if ground conditions are decent.
There is no Irish-trained representative in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle, but the champion Binocular is set to tackle eight opponents, including Khyber Kim, who chased him home at Cheltenham last March.
Binocular was behind Starluck when both reappeared behind Peddlers Cross at Newbury last month but is expected to improve significantly for that outing.
Decent going will also be important for Loosen My Load, who takes on some promising home novices in the Feltham, including Nicky Henderson’s Master Of The Hall.
De Bromhead’s runner disappointed on his previous start, but the Grade Two winner is capable of making his presence felt.
Chepstow 'in the lap of the weather gods' Welsh National postponed
RACING FACES a St Stephen’s Day white-out in Ireland and Britain, and the chances of Chepstow staging a big-race rescue on Monday was ruled out yesterday when the Welsh National fixture was cancelled.
Irish hopes of landing the long-distance marathon were mainly invested in the Irish National heroine Bluesea Cracker, who had been as low as 9 to 1 second favourite in some ante-post lists.
However, the meeting has been postponed to tomorrow fortnight, January 8th, when hopes are high the big race can be run off.
Bluesea Cracker will still make the journey and attempt to secure a second National success.
“We are going to wait and run her at Chepstow,” trainer James Motherway said yesterday. “There really isn’t much else for her. It was the plan, and we’re sticking to it.
“I knew the prospects for Monday weren’t good but there’s nothing anyone can do. We’re in the lap of the weather gods.”
Chepstow’s clerk of the course, Keith Ottesen, said: “We won’t race on Monday and the card will take place on Saturday, January 8th. We’ve got a slot for some races to be televised on the BBC that day. It’s great to get the race saved – as long as the weather is all right.”
