Contender Kauto Star is still chasing a heavyweight title

Star jump: Kauto Star (right) is prone to keeping hearts aflutter with his jumping style, but there is no doubting his class as a challenger to Arkle and Desert Orchid as an all-time great

Simon Milham

13 April 2012

Even if Kauto Star wins the King George VI Chase at Kempton park on Boxing Day for a fourth consecutive time, the big question may still remain unanswered. Is he the greatest ever chaser?

With two Gold Cups and three King Georges to his name already, Paul Nicholls' stable star might well end up notching enough victories to be considered for this accolade.

Kauto Star is a magnificent champion, easily the best of his era. Yet it is hard to argue against the fact that he has never had to carry the weights in handicaps that either Arkle or Desert Orchid did.

And though his 4-7 odds would suggest that the three-mile Grade One event is little more than a lap of honour, Kauto Star will never inspire the standing-dish confidence that Dessie' served up at the Sunbury track 20-odd years ago under Simon Sherwood and later Richard Dunwoody.

Kauto Star is like a great a British heavyweight fighter. He has the strength, he's battle-hardened and possesses the ring-craft and a haymaking turn of foot that can floor rivals.

Yet there is always a nagging doubt. In Kauto Star's case, that doubt is his jumping. In boxing parlance he is chinny'. The nine-year-old sets the heart aflutter with an untidy leap, and in days past it was often at the last fence. He is usually athletic enough to adjust, as one unseated rider and one fall to his name in a 22-race British career attest.

Those doubts mean Kauto Star will never be regarded as an equine Ali or Tyson, like Dessie and Arkle before him. Yet we should be thankful that KAUTO STAR (3.05pm) is chasing's equivalent of Henry Cooper or Frank Bruno. He will always have our respect and adoration, despite any perceived flaw. Credible challengers are few, though soft-ground lover Nacarat at 18-1 (Sportingbet), who hacked up in the Racing Post Chase here in February, holds each-way appeal.

Channel 4 televise three more races from Kempton and Nicky Henderson's exciting French import Long Run will be all the rage in the Grade 1 Feltham Novices' Chase.

But preference is for northern raider TAZBAR (1.55pm), who is out to give Keith Reveley a second win in the 3m event following Ungaro's success in 2006. While Go Native has every chance of following up his conclusive Fighting Fifth Hurdle victory in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle, STARLUCK (2.30pm) may be the value against the main protagonists, who include Champion Hurdle third and likely favourite Binocular.

Alan Fleming's four-year-old travels supremely well and this speed-favouring track will play to his strengths.

The meeting concludes with a 2m 4f novices' handicap chase and DOVER'S HILL (3.40pm) should be in the mix. He really caught the eye running on late when third to Khachaturian here last time.

OTHER C4 TV TIPS...Wetherby 2:10 CARRUTHERS
Wincanton 2.20 WILLIAM BONNEY

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Contender Kauto Star is still chasing a heavyweight title

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