Events / Editor / 28 October 2007 /

Kauto matched at 30 before trading at evens...

There was no fairytale return to racing at Aintree today for last year's Betfair Million winner Kauto Star. The Paul Nicholls-trained superstar was racing for the first time since his win at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, the last leg of the 2007 Betfair Million.

Kauto Star drifted to odds of 30 in-running on Betfair before coming into evens, but just didn't have quite enough left in the tank to catch the runaway Monet's Garden.

It looked like a straight tussle between Monet's Garden and Ashley Brook (matched at a low of 4.1 in-running) for much of the race, at which point Kauto Star drifted heavily, but when Ashley Brook fell whilst leading with four fences to go, Kauto made his move.

Those who backed him in-running at the massive price of 30 had a pretty good run for their money but Monet's Garden, who was backed in-running at a high of 5.3, held on to win by a length and a half.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "Obviously Monet's Garden was going to be hard to beat today.

"(Kauto Star) ran a bit lazy mid-race but he's a true stayer and wants three miles.

"They went a fair old gallop in front. We hoped we'd outstayed them, but Monet's Garden is a specialist two-and-a-half mile horse."

Betfair latest odds for:

King George: 3.6 Kauto Star, 5.3 My Way De Solzen, 9.6 Exotic Dancer, 11 Monet's Garden, 17 Taranis, 24 Ashley Brook.

Cheltenham Gold Cup: 3.6 Kauto Star, 5.5 Denman, 10 My Way De Solzen, 12 Exotic Dancer, 26 Star De Mohaison, 32 Aces Four.

Betfair Million to be won?: 1.17 no, 4.5 yes.

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