 Kauto Star is now joint-favourite for the King George |
Kauto Star made an impressive start to his 2006/07 campaign with Ruby Walsh riding him to a comfortable win in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday. The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old ended last season with a fall at the third fence when sent off as favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
But the even-money favourite jumped smoothly at Aintree, powering clear before the last to win by 21 lengths.
The race was the first in this season's Order of Merit.
Nicholls described Kauto Star's performance as "awesome".
The champion trainer added: "I have always had a suspicion that further would suit him as he could just creep into the race and the two-and-half miles suited him well.
"He could go for the Tingle Creek again back over two miles and then step up to three miles in the King George, but we will have to see."
Bookmakers Coral made Kauto Star 4-1 joint favourite with Monet's Garden for the King George in December.
He is best-priced at 10-1 with William Hill for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, while 3-1 is the top offer for the 2007 Champion Chase.
It was a good day at Aintree for the Nicholls stables with Turko making a winning debut over fences.
The four-year-old enjoyed a 12-length win in the Digital Print From Bonusprint.com Novices' Chase and was immediately cut to 14-1 for the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival by some bookmakers.
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Interview: Kauto Star's jockey Ruby Walsh