Cheltenham Gold Cup: Why I'm backing Kauto Star

Big Races / Editor / 28 February 2010 / Leave a comment

Best jockey, best horse - backing Kauto is a no-brainer

Timeform Radio pundit Terry Norman has a simple argument to back up his bet on Kauto - the reigning champ is the best horse in the race

"Ruby Walsh, successful in 14 of 21 starts on Kauto Star, is classed as one of the finest jockeys of this, and any other, generation. He has also been leading jockey at the Festival four times and has ridden 24 winners in total, one short of Pat Taaffe's all-time record."

When you having any kind of racing bet, especially the demanding 3m 3furlongs slog of the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, the main question to ask is: "Am I backing the best horse in the race? "

Kauto Star, the [1.83] Gold Cup favourite, has a roll call to frighten the rest . Consider the evidence: two previous Gold Cups, four King Georges (3 miles) and a Tingle Creek (2 miles), plus an all-time high BHA rating of 193 (Denman is 182). Check.

Okay, what about the trainer, is he good enough? Step forward Paul Nicholls, champion trainer for the past four seasons and trainer of 17 Festival winners. Check.

Next we come to the jockey. Another positive there as well. Ruby Walsh, successful in 14 of 21 starts on Kauto Star, is classed as one of the finest jockeys of this, and any other, generation. He has also been leading jockey at the Festival four times and has ridden 24 winners in total, one short of Pat Taaffe's all-time record. Another check.

Surely the ground could be a worry, then? No, not at all. The 10-year-old has won four times on good, six times on good to soft, four times on soft and, just for good measure, twice on heavy.

Okay, okay, but there must be a flaw somewhere? What about his jumping? No help there in trying to oppose him. Kauto Star has fallen just once, unseated once, in 23 starts, of which the son of Village Star has won 16 of his 21 completed outings. His jumping is one of his most important weapons in an armoury the SAS would be proud.

Final chance to find a flaw, and this is a proven fact, isn't it? Namely, French-breds, naturally precocious - they can run over fences at the age of four - have had enough by their ninth or 10th birthday. Records back it up, don't they? Not in the case of Kauto Star. Conversely, results indicate he is actually getting better.

A 'teenage tantrum' a couple of seasons back saw Nicholls apply a sheepskin noseband, since which he has won five from six and may have won the other but for unshipping Sam Thomas at the last in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, transforming him from a potential moody teenager into a mature and considerate student.

My reasons for opposing Kauto Star? I don't seem to be able to find any!

Tags: Cheltenham, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Gold Cup, Paul Nicholls, Ruby Walsh