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

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.

Deep Purple's odds slashed for the King George Chase after winning the Peterborough Chase

Deep Purple’s odds for the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park have been slashed from 25/1 to 14/1 with event sponsors William Hill after winning the Totesport.com Peterborough Chase on Thursday.

The eight year old, trained by Evan Williams, could now head to the King George Chase on December 26 after his emphatic win over a strong field, under a 10lb penalty and after starting as a 12-1 outsider.

Deep Purple finished well clear of other King George Chase prospects, six lengths ahead of Tartak and a further five lengths back to last year’s King George Chase runner-up Albertas Run.

“I had been hoping he’d run well,” Williams said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere with him over Christmas but, though I was hoping to avoid Kauto Star this year, it would be silly not to have a go at the King George now.”

“He’s been a bit underrated because, though he’s won a lot, we’ve always kept him low key. I didn’t think he had a performance like that in him. He did work better than any horse we’ve ever had on a bit of fresh grass recently. The others were making mistakes because the pace was ferocious, but he’s very progressive. I’ll get pushed into entering him in the Ryanair and Gold Cup, but it’s my opinion that flat tracks play to his strengths” Williams added.

The Kempton Park Winter Festival sponsors, William Hill, have cut Deep Purple’s odds from 25/1 to 14/1. In the race for second, Deep Purple is at 8-1 in betting without the favourite, Kauto Star.