Kauto Star make history by winning fourth straight King George Chase

Kauto Star has made history by winning the 2009 William Hill King George Chase today at Kempton Park for the fourth year in a row.

The legendary Desert Orchid set the record to beat at four wins in five years and three wins in succession, but Kauto Star bettered that on Boxing Day by beating a top class field to win four in a row with jockey Ruby Walsh, trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Clive Smith.

Nacarat lead for most of the race, but Kauto Star cruised to the lead on the final bend and won by a record-breaking ‘distance’, 36 lengths, from Madison Du Berlais and Babers Shop.

Second favourite Imperial Commander, who lost to Kauto Star by a nose in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month, made a mistake early on and finished 5th.

“It’s some performance to come back four years in a race and it’s even better to win four in a row – it was some performance,” said jockey Ruby Walsh after the win.

“Paul, Dan, Clifford, Mick they’ve all done it. To be on his [Kauto Star's] back is a privilege.”

Trainer Paul Nicholls said about his star horse: “I said he was as well as I ever had him, but that’s the best he’s ever been.”

2009 King George VI Chase Results

• 1. Kauto Star
• 2. Madison Du Berlais
• 3. Babers Shop
• 4. Nacarat
• 5. Imperial Commander
• 6. Albertas Run
• 7. Tartak
• 8. Our Vic
• 9. Ollie Magern
• 10. Sandymac
• PU Deep Purple
• PU Master Medic
• PU Racing Demon

Kauto Star is set to take on 12 in the 2009 King George VI Chase

After the final declarations stage for the King George VI Chase, Kauto Star is set to take on 12 opponents in the feature grade 1 race on December 26 at Kempton Park. Roll Along, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was the only horse to be removed from the field.

Defending champion Kauto Star is still the favourite to take out the 3 mile chase for a history making 4th consecutive year, with current odds of 8/13 with event sponsor William Hill. Imperial Commander and Madison Du Berlais lead the rest of the field in betting.

See the full 2009 King George Chase field.

Ruby Walsh thinks Kauto Star is as good or even better than last year

Jockey Ruby Walsh, who is hoping to make history with Kauto Star by winning a fourth successive King George VI Chase at Kempton on December 26, thinks the 9 year old is in as good or even better form than he was for last year’s race.

“I would say Kauto Star is as good if not better than last year,” Walsh said. “Kempton’s been a very lucky track to me over the last couple of years and Kauto has been outstanding there.

“It’s a race I really look forward to and I can’t wait for it to come around. I’m looking forward to riding him and if he could win four King George’s he will go down in history.”

If Kauto Star wins on Boxing Day he will equal Desert Orchid’s record of 4 wins and break the record of 3 consecutive wins. Walsh would also equal jockey Richard Dunwoody’s record of 4 King George Chase wins.

Kauto Star is currently at 4/7 with event sponsor William Hill.

David Pipe is expecting Madison Du Berlais to improve for the King George Chase

Trainer David Pipe is expecting Madison Du Berlais to improve for the King George VI Chase after finishing third behind Kauto Star and Imperial Commander in lat month’s Betfair Chase in his first run of the season.

“He’s in great form and he doesn’t perform up to his best first time out for some reason,” Pipe said.

“He was beaten a long way and he’s got to improve, but he usually does improve for his first run and he put up a good performance round Kempton last year when beating Denman.

“Kauto Star is 1-2 favourite and looks a good thing and we’re probably looking for place money but we’ll be doing our best to try and beat him and if you’re not in it you can’t win it.”

Madison Du Berlais is currently at 8/1 with event sponsor William Hill for the King George Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Kauto Star heads 14 for the King George Chase

The field for the 2009 King George VI Chase is down to 14 horses with Kauto Star still the favourite for the Grade 1 feature on Boxing Day at Kempton Park.

Horses that were taken out of the field in the latest forfeit stage include In Compliance and Schindlers Hunt, both trained by Dessie Hughes, as well as What A Friend and Cooldine who are both headed for the Lexus Chase. Joe Lively and Chief Dan George will also not take part in this year’s race.

Nigel Twiston-Davies still has three entries with Imperial Commander, Ollie Magern and Roll Along while David Pipe has two entries with Madison Du Berlais and Our Vic. But all eyes will be on the Paul Nicholls trained Kauto Star and jockey Ruby Walsh as they aim for a fourth consecutive King George Chase victory.

Currently Kauto Star is 4/7 with event sponsor William Hill.

Joe Lively doubtful for King George Chase

Joe Lively, who’s last win was at Cheltenham in January, is doubtful to run in this year’s King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on December 26.

The 10 year old, trained by Colin Tizzard, has already been removed from antepost betting at event sponsor William Hill, where he last had odds of 66/1. If Joe Lively is indeed out then the field for this year’s race will be down to 18 horses.

Babers Shop confirmed for the 2009 King George Chase

The Queen’s horse Babers Shop has been confirmed for this year’s William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. The news of the confirmation has seen Babers Shop’s odds drop from 20/1 to 14/1 with event sponsor William Hill.

The King George Chase, and taking on Kauto Star, was seen as a better option for the seven year old instead of Ascot’s Sodexo Prestige Silver Cup on Saturday, where he would have had to concede weight to all but What A Friend.

“He is at the top of every handicap unless he’s got a Denman in the race like in the Hennessy, where he ran superbly. So we either run in a handicap at Ascot from top weight or have a go at Kauto Star in the King George, and that’s what we decided to do. Three miles suits him well as I don’t think he’s a real slogger” said trainer Nicky Henderson.

Deep Purple trainer Evan Williams is concerned about taking on Kauto Star in the King George Chase

It has not yet been decided if Deep Purple will run in this year’s William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day with trainer Evan Williams concerned about taking on 3 time winner Kauto Star.

Williams has admitted that he was surprised by his eight year old geldings emphatic win in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last thursday.

“I have to admit to being a bit taken aback the way he did it. I thought it was a massive step up on his Charlie Hall run. There were a few people crabbing it saying the race fell apart, but I don’t know what else the poor old horse can do” Williams said.

“I’m not going to definitely commit to the King George because I want the dust to settle. Of course we are going to look at it and it will come under strong consideration.

“A King George is another step up and I’ve been on the receiving end of mighty beatings from Kauto Star, Denman and the like. I realise how magnificent those animals are. They are a step above and are greats.

“It is intimidating but our horse keeps raising the bar.”

After Deep Purple’s success in the Peterborough Chase, event sponsors William Hill slashed his odds for the King George VI Chase from 25/1 to 14/1.

RSA Chase winner Cooldine will not run in the King George VI Chase

RSA Chase winner Cooldine will be spending Christmas at home with trainer Willie Mullins deciding not to run the seven year old chaser at the King George Chase on Boxing Day.

Having not run since winning the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Cooldine’s jump season reappearance will be in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 instead of taking on Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

“He worked well during the week and it looks like he’ll go for the Lexus,” Mullins said. “I have him in the King George but I think it might suit connections to go to the Lexus, so we might go there.”

Cooldine has been removed from betting at event sponsor William Hill. This latest news brings the current field for the 2009 William Hill King George VI Chase down to 19 horses.

The 3m King George VI Chase might suit Tartak

After finishing second in the Totesport.com Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Thursday, Tartak is a possibility for the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Tartak finished second to fellow King George Chase prospect Deep Purple, and ahead of last year’s runner-up Albertas Run. Trainer Tom George thinks that Tartak would do well over 3 miles which is the distance for the King George Chase.

“Tartak has shown he’s a class horse. They did go quick and it caught his jumping out a bit, but he will learn a lot from that. Sam said he’d have preferred to have been riding him over three miles” George said.

At the moment William Hill has Tartak at long odds of 66/1 for the King George VI Chase on December 26.