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.

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.

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.

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.

20 horses remain in the field for the 2009 King George VI Chase

After the latest forfeit round 12 horses have been scratched from the 2009 King George VI Chase. This now leaves 20 horses in the field for the the grade 1 feature race at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

While there were no real surprises in the latest round of scratchings, notable horses to be removed from contention include Voy Por Ustedes, Kalahari King, Well Chief, War of Attrition and Monet’s Garden.

Reigning champion Kauto Star, who is looking to make history with a 4th consecutive King George Chase win, is still the favourite with event sponsor William Hill, while Betfair Chase runner-up Imperial Commander leads the rest ahead of Madison du Berlais and Cooldine.

The maximum field that can take part in the King George Chase is 20.