Paul Nicholls will walk the course at Ascot on Thursday morning to satisfy himself it is safe for Kauto Star to defend his massive reputation two days later. If the champion trainer is not happy with what he finds, the Gold Cup winner and ante-post favourite is likely to attempt a rare weight-carrying feat in the Racing Post Chase a week later.
Nicholls nominated the Commercial First Ascot Chase for Kauto Star immediately after his second King George VI Chase victory on Boxing Day. It seemed a surprising choice - a trip (an extended two miles and five furlongs) short of his best and a right-handed track rather than his preferred left - but he has never wavered from the decision.
However, having already completed the Gold Cup preparations of his stablemate Denman, Nicholls is intent that the present champion should have conditions to suit. He explained: “I want to run him at Ascot and I know they are planning to water.
“We’ll go there so long as it’s proper good ground - he doesn’t need it soft but it does have to be safe. I’ve also entered him at Wincanton on Saturday but he wouldn’t necessarily go there if we missed Ascot - the Racing Post is probably more likely.”
Monet’s Garden, the only horse to beat Kauto Star in the past two seasons, is an intended runner at Ascot for the Nicky Richards yard, which is in need of a fillip. Money Trix and Turpin Green both suffered setbacks last week, though Richards is “hopeful” that the latter will still be fit for the Gold Cup.
Advertisement
Other entries in the Ascot grade one include Racing Demon, Hobbs Hill, Vodka Bleu and Howle Hill. Nicholls intends to run Neptune Collonges in the Country Gentleman’s Chase at Wincanton, where Osana bids to enhance his Champion Hurdle prospects in the Kingwell Hurdle.