Star to shine bright again

Cheltenham festival day three preview

KAUTO Star can emulate the great Best Mate by becoming the second triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner of the millennium.

Successful last year and three seasons ago, Paul Nicholls’ superstar has tomorrow’s steeplechasing blue riband at his mercy following last month’s eclipse of stable companion Denman.

With rain forecast, he will not find conditions ideal, but I expect his class to carry him home.

Kauto Star has looked as good as ever this season and his last victory in Kempton’s King George VI Chase was arguably his most impressive performance.

Denman, winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup two starts ago and conqueror of Kauto Star in this race in 2008, was already in trouble when unseating Tony McCoy three fences from home in his Newbury prep race and I can’t see how Nicholls can have conjured up enough improvement in the horse to be able to beat such a formidable rival as his illustrious stable companion.

Indeed, my idea of the main danger to the favourite is Imperial Commander, who ran Kauto Star to the shortest of short heads at Haydock in November.

Best when fresh and boasting a fine record at Cheltenham, I expect Nigel Twiston-Davies’ nine-year-old to give Kauto Star a battle in the home straight.

Cooldine, impressive winner of last year’s RSA Chase, is peaking at the right time and could make the frame, while Nicholls’ third string, Tricky Trickster, is another who could make an impact if the race develops into a slog following heavy downpours.

Gold Cup day opens with the JCB Triumph Hurdle in which Nicky Henderson’s French import Soldatino could fend off a strong Irish challenge headed by Alaivan.

Soldatino looked good when winning at Kempton on his first run for Henderson and is reported to have thrived since.

Some really nice types do battle in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and although Restless Harry is a favourite of mine, he may find it tough to fend off some high-class Irish opposition.

Shinrock Paddy has been my long-range fancy for this, but he may just have to give best to the highly-regarded Enterprise Park from the Willie Mullins stable.

Meanwhile, Sericina is fancied to win the Christie’s Foxhunters’ Chase.


Oiseau De Nuit, trained by Colin Tizzard, will love any cut in the ground for the concluding Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase.