Bookmakers have reacted to Kauto Star's stunning Betfair Chase win by clipping his odds in for both the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup this season. Paul Nicholls' 11-year-old rolled back the years at Haydock to serve a reminder of his class and Bet 365 have made him the 4/1 second favourite for the King George.
Kauto Star produced a quite brilliant performance to win the Betfair Chase for the fourth time in six years on Saturday. Under an excellent ride from Ruby Walsh, the two-time Gold Cup winner led from the front in fine style and jumped superbly to beat ante-post favourite Long Run by eight lengths.
The victory served to emphasise the class of one of the legends of national hunt racing and was one in the eye for critics who suggested that he should be retired after he finished third in the King George, third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and was pulled up in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown last season.
However, owner Clive Smith has admitted that the King George VI Chase at Kempton is now a very real possibility for Kauto Star.
Bet 365 clipped him in from 12/1 to 4/1 for the Boxing Day showpiece at Kempton after his Haydock success at the weekend. The Gold Cup next March was going to be his final race according to Smith but he has now indicated that his 11-year-old deserves a crack at the King George as he currently sits alongside Desert Orchid for all time wins in the race with four.
Long Run was well beaten by Kauto Star on his seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase as his race was blighted by several jumping errors. Nicky Henderson's 6-year-old remains favourite for the King George at odds of 6/4 after Bet365.com eased him out from 5/6 on, while Kauto Star's stablemate Master Minded is a 5/1 shot after his success in the Amlin Chase at Ascot.
Kauto Star and Long Run could be set for another showdown at the season's showpiece of the Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival in March. Long Run rose to prominence with victory in the race last March, although Kauto Star produced an admirable effort in defeat. Kauto Star has been clipped in to 10/1 from 25/1 to win the Gold Cup for the third time in his career, with Captain Chris and Quito De La Roque 14/1 shots.
Defending champion Long Run, who is 6/1 to do the King George and Gold Cup double again, remains the 5/2 favourite with Bet 365 though and Nicky Henderson's stable star will no doubt be closer to Gold Cup race fitness come March. But for now racing enthusiasts can enjoy the efforts of the veteran Kauto Star and wonder what else might lie ahead in what is likely to be his final season.
Latest King George VI Chase Odds
6/4 Long Run, 4/1 Kauto Star, 5/1 Master Minded, 7/1 Captain Chris, 12/1 Wishfull Thinking, 16/1 Somersby, 16/1 Kauto Stone, 16/1 Noble Prince, 20/1 BAR
Latest Cheltenham Gold Cup Odds
5/2 Long Run, 10/1 Kauto Star, 14/1 Captain Chris, 14/1 Quito De La Roque, 16/1 Grands Crus, 16/1 Time For Rupert, 20/1 BAR
Odds supplied by Bet365.com bookmakers, who provide odds for all British national hunt racing this season.
Posted: Monday, 21st November 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: king george vi chase, kauto star, long run, gold cup, bet365,
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