Kauto Star’s Perfect Start

Kauto Star got his season off to the perfect start but was pushed all the way by the hugely impressive Imperial Commander in Saturday’s Betfair Chase.

The dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner held on to take his third victory in the race but to say he won by even a nose would be an major overstatement, as the official photo showed that first place was achieved by barely a hairs breadth.

Haydock is far from being Kauto Star’s favourite track and the nine year old unseated jockey Sam Thomas at last years event. Pre-race, the weather forecast also proved to be unfavourable and the soft ground meant that there was plenty of support for second favourite Notre Pere. However, it quickly became obvious that only Imperial Commander was capable of keeping up with Paul Nicholls champion, as Notre Pere and the rest of the challengers fell away long before the final run-in.

That left two horses in it with three to jump and while Paddy Brennan and his eight year old challenger kicked on well, they were destined to fall agonizingly short. Speaking after the race, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “He did bloody well. From every angle I saw he had got it, but there you are. I am sure the camera doesn’t lie.” “All the so-called experts said he couldn’t stay, but how couldn’t he? He ran over 2m5f in the Paddy Power in the heavy and he was powering up the hill. And if this had been 3m2f he would have won easily. Bring on the Gold Cup!” Twiston-Davies will now have to decide whether or not to send his horse to Kempton to take on Kauto Star again, this time in the King George VI Chase. In order to emerge victorious he may face an even stiffer test however, with Kauto going for a fourth successive victory in the race.

With a good run under his belt to boot, not only is ante-post favouritism justified but the ever decreasing odds on an unbeaten season suggest that, while undoubtedly impressive, Imperial Commander’s attempt may prove not to be ground gained but merely an opportunity missed.