The Paul Nicholls-trained champion has a record over fences that is hard to criticise: in 21 chases he has won 14 times and been second on five other occasions.
Last year, he won three out of four, the only blot being when he unseated Sam Thomas after stumbling at the last fence in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. He had already won that race twice and most observers reckon he would have won it 12 months ago had he not faltered. All of which suggests that the best staying chaser in the land should make it three successes when he tackles the Haydock race again this afternoon.
Yet, at the last check, he was not odds-on, which either says much for the opposition or indicates that the Nicholls horses are not hitting their peak yet. A third case for the unusual reticence about the horse is the probable heavy going.
The justification for the worry about his fitness to win first time out is mainly based on Master Minded’s disappointing show last week when he hung right and was beaten into third place at Cheltenham. It is a reasonable enough argument but Kauto’s own record, which includes three out of four wins first time out, does weigh against it.
Nicholls recognised after Kauto was beaten in the 2008 Gold Cup that he would need to curtail his outings if his peak was to be maintained for the big races. Consequently, Kauto ran only four times last year, losing once because of that stumble. His victories were in a Grade 1 Chase at Down Royal, the King George VI Chase at Kempton and the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
None of his challengers today has a record remotely as impressive, although Notre Pere had a fine season for Jim Dreaper in Ireland winning three of his five chases.Along with Imperial Commander and Madison du Berlais, he represents good-class material to test the champion.
Imperial Commander proved his class when winning the Ryanair Chase at the Festival but there is a doubt about his ability to stay three miles. No such doubt can be aimed at Madison du Berlais but, like Kauto, he is having his first outing of the season.
The worries about the favourite staying the trip in the heavy going could be valid but his two wins over three and a quarter miles at Cheltenham and the fact he has coped with soft ground easily enough provide a solid case for the defence.
All in all, there seems to be every chance that the reigning champion, Kauto Star (2.55) will kick of his season with another victory.
*Selections Haydock 2.20 Buena Vista 2.55 Kauto Star Ascot 2.35 Zaynar 3.10 Schindlers Hunt Lingfield 3.40 Presvis
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