Events / Geoffrey Riddle / 26 December 2009 / Leave a Comment

Geoffrey Riddle is positioned in a packed press room at Kempton where the great and good have assembled to witness Kauto Star's attempt to make horseracing history. Keep up with all the news and chatter and e-mail in with your thoughts abnd tips on:theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

3.40pm result:
1: Polyfast
2: Wogan
3: Nikos Extra
Dover's Hill crumpled at the last, having been traded at [1.1] in-running to leave Polyfast a skinner for layers.

Well team, it's been a special afternoon. Just over 22,000 people turned up to watch Kauto Star put down a marker to the likes of Desert Orchid, and dare we say it, Arkle? I don't know about inflation, but can Arkle followers say that he won more than £2m in prize-money? Owner Clive Smith trousered his portion of the £114,000 that Kauto Star won him this afternoon, and if you add that to Kauto's career prize-money, that smashed the £2m barrier. It was a consummate performance, and one which will live long in the memory of the crowd here today. And to think, in 20 years time, when there is a new kid on the block, we can all say wistfully, "I don't think that this horse will ever be as good as that Kauto Star was." Probably no-one will have a clue about what we are all talking about, either....

3.35pm:
Trainer Alan King made Nikos Extra his best chance of success during the Christmas period. It seems that punters have taken the hint, too as the five-year-old is [4.4] favourite on Betfair right now.

3.30pm:
Paul Nicholls didn't rule out another crack at the King George next year. William Hill, ever-ready for a PR opportunity, snuck in there and quoted 6-4 about a fifth King George. "He's about that to be alive next year," quipped one cynical wag...

3.05pm result: The King George:
1: Kauto Star
2:Madison Du Berlais
3: Barbers Shop
Another Christmas goes by and another victory for Kauto Star in the King George. It was Kauto's fourth consecutive victory in this contest, and his most emphatic. Nacarat set a furious gallop that had the heavily-fancied Imperial Commander in trouble at the second fence, and the in-form Deep Purple pulled up as they entered the second circuit.

Nacarat's relentless pace had the field strung out, but Kauto's exquisite jumping got him to the withers of Nacarat approaching the final half a mile. And then it happened. It looked all too easy. Kauto skipped over the final fence into the record books, winning by a distance. No-one paid any attention to the thrilling finish between Madison Du Berlais and Barbers Shop for second. Nacarat paid heavily for his pace-making duties and finished fourth.

Those in-running punters patient enough got their reward. Over half a million pounds was matched on the favourite in-running at prices in excess of [1.7]. There's a weird fluffy atmosphere here now. Kauto took a turn around the winners' enclosure as the crowd 'hip hip hooray-ed' and Take That roared out on the speakers. I bet those merchandise salesmen are rubbing their hands with glee. Kauto Star mousemat anyone?

2.45pm
Given that Kauto Star has won his last three King Georges by an aggregate total of 27 lengths, I'm certainly not in the laying camp. But at [1.57] I'm happy to leave him as I took some of the 5-2 available that he won the Betfair Chase and this.

I'd rather back something at a bigger price, and I just can't get away from Imperial Commander. All I would like to add to the debate is that I wouldn't place too much stock in the fact that Imperial Commander has raced twice going right-handed and has bombed. Last year in this race when he finished sixth, his trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies was in appalling form with one winner from 46 runners. Last time Imperial Commander raced right-handed was in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown where the going was pretty desperate. All in all, Feargal O'Brien, Twiston-Davies's assistant doesn't believe there is a problem with his charge going right-handed, so if you do fancy him, there no reason to think that going this way round is the thing which is going to beat him. If anything, Twiston-Davies wasn't too hopeful on the Morning Line this morning.

Andrew Longmore, the biographer of Kieren Fallon, and Sunday Times Racing correspondent reckons the Betfair Chase may heralded a new era. "We expect so much from these animals," Longmore reasoned. "We think that because they won their last race they are going to go on and on. He's won his Gold Cups and King Georges. Perhaps that run at Haydock was simply him flagging up that his time was over."

2.30pm result:
1: Go Native
2: Starluck
3: Binocular
Go Native's name was cheered to the skies when the result of the photo-finish was announced. I though it odd, considering Starluck was so heavily-backed. Perhaps everyone was just relieved that they hadn't backed Binocular. Go Native looked to win with any amount in hand, and after the final flight jockey Davvy Condon was looking round at his nearest rivals. You'd hardly call that hard pressed.

That Supreme Novices' form looks extremely strong. If Go Native's subsequent victory in the Fighting Fifth wasn't enough, then Medermit's third to Khyber Kim twice at Cheltenham this season bolsters the view that it was an extremely competitive affair. Go Native must rate an excellent chance in the Champion Hurdle in March.

2.30pm
Nicky Henderson described Long Run's performance in the Feltham as "unbelievable." Henderson was clearly impressed by his charge, and was keen to highlight Long Run's inexperience. "He a serious horse for a four-year-old," said the Kempton punters' pal. "He's got a really good engine, but he just needs to learn to be English." Henderson was referring to Long Run's low jumping style, which was learned under the guidance of Guillame Macaire in France. "It's a different technique, but Sam [Waley-Cohen] came down and we put him round the indoor school, getting him to jump up, up, up."
Henderson wants Long Run to get a lot more experience, so expect to see him out at least once before Cheltenham.

2.25pm
Andrew Wates, the owner of Starluck, is a fortunate individual. He owned 1996 Grand National winner Rough Quest. I loved Rough Quest and it was Mick Fitzgerald's most patient ride in the saddle that won him the 4m4f marathon as 7-1 favourite. I wonder if Wates is behind the massive plunge on his horse for the Christmas Hurdle. I suppose it may have had something to do with Pricewise, who tipped up Starluck this morning. Matched at [7.8], Starluck is now [4.6].

2.20pm
No winner of the Feltham has gone on to win the RSA Chase in the last decade. It's a sobering thought for anyone who wants to back Long Run for that gruelling Cheltenham test. Skybet make Long Run 5-1 for the RSA, Hills go 7-1. On Betfair, Long Run is [7.1], behind Punchestowns at [6.4].

2.15pm
They are handing out Kauto Star memorabilia here. It's quite disgusting. There's Kauto Star scarves draped around punters' necks. People are walking around with "I'm 4 Kauto" placards in reference to the champ's bid for his historic four-timer. There's also a Kauto shop. It's going to be inundated later if he wins. Do you think it would be worth making a green, yellow and purple shirt? Do you think it would sell?

1.55pm result:
1: Long Run
2: Tazbar
There's a huge roar from the grandstand as Long Run comes back from a rather facile victory. Nicky Henderson's fans clearly haven't deserted him after his two expensive failures in the first two races. Despite an appalling error at the second last and jockey Sam Waley-Cohen almost falling at the final fence, Long Run capped a memorable British debut with a fine win. He joins winners of this race such as Strong Flow, Gloria Victis and Jair Du Cochet
Tchico Polos cut out the running from the start, but layers weren't fooled and the Nicholls charge traded at only [3.0].

1.20pm
1: Lake Legend
2: Erzen
3:Fruity Rooney
4:Clova Island
Wayne Hutchison pulls out all the stops and denies another Nicky Henderson runner to the line. Erzen and Lake Legend had the race all to themselves on the run in, and although Tony McCoy was plugging away, he never could quite make it. Layers were duped by the champion jockey though, and Erzen was matched at as low as [1.2].

Of the past ten winners of the Feltham Chase, up next, Strong Flow registered a Racing Post Rating of 163 when winning at 4-11 in 2003, and Bacchanal was a 1lb behind at 162 when winning in 2000. According to RPR's Long Run has already registered 166, and Tchico Polos 160. Next in line is Ogee at 155.

I've laid Long Run. He's ridden by an amateur, he's never raced the distance, and Auteuil, where he has solely raced, is a left-handed track. I think [2.48] is appalling value.

Tchico Polos was flagged up by Kauto Star owner Clive Smith on The Morning Line. Given that Smith has one of the best 'ins' on the Paul Nicholls stable in the country, you would imagine the Nicholls horse is strongly fancied. Tchico Polos ran well at Exeter, which is often a good indicator of how a horse will take to Kempton.

Ogee has loads in his favour. His last two races have been run in good times, and crucially on this tacky going, he is one of the few who will get the trip. He has also jumped right on occasion, which is no bad thing here.

1.15pm
Barry Geraghty hasn't made it for his ride on Busker Royal. That's the trouble with being a fancy Dan and trying to arrive by aeroplane. It's all very well, but Felix de Giles is here isn't he? It's all about one's professional mindset Mr Geraghty!

Replacing de Giles on Forzy Origny is Ruby Walsh. Don't you just love these jockey merry-go-rounds?

1.05pm
Nicky Henderson's record in the last race isn't the best. He has saddled ten runners in that opener in as many years, and only won it once. He's record in this handicap is a lot better with 13 runners, four winners and three places. He's also saddled three of the last four winners.

I think Alderluck and Sangfroid are the two I'm going to look at closely in the paddock in a minute. Alderluck's form merits the closest inspection. His effort when going down to Trenchant in a very fast time by a neck here in November was franked in no uncertain terms when the third, Fairyland hacked up at the Hennessy meeting.

Sangfroid on the other hand has run moderately at Cheltenham twice since winning at Sandown in April. He's never won going left-handed, so those runs at Prestbury Park can probably be ignored. Going round the other way here, he should be a lot better.

Basically, as far as I see it, you've got a favourite, Busker Royal, who hasn't run over hurdles this season, and has just one win from 14 hurdle starts. For that sole success Busker Royal went up 9lbs and hasn't won over the smaller obstacles since in a 13-month period, or six successive hurdle starts. None of the three horses that followed him home have won since, either. Ok, he's trained by Nicky Henderson, but come on, [5.8]?

12.45pm result:
1: Menorah
2: Bellvano
3: Dr Livingstone
Bellvano raced awkwardly down the straight and almost raced out before the second last. It must have been the iron will of Tony McCoy that kept him on track, but he was no match for Menorah, who won by 12 lengths. Those of you who waited in-running got a decent price, and there were thousands matched at [6.8], [6.6] and [6.2].

12.35pm
A high-class edition of the opener with Menorah and Bellvano already attaining a level of form in excess of eight of the past ten winners. The beauty of this particular betting heat is that Menorah is a hold-up horse, so it may be better for punters to wait until the market is turned in-play before getting involved on either horse.

12.15pm:
NEWSFLASH! Barry Geraghty has only just got on the plane in Ireland. He is around a 4-6 chance to miss his ride on Busker Royal in the 1.20pm. He may of course miss further rides, in which case the wonderfully named Felix de Giles will take over.
Silmi has just been pulled out of the last race.

Midday:
The press room is so full at the moment that I'm having to stand. I don't want your sympathy necessarily, but it does indicate how crazily packed the racecourse is. And it's still 45 minutes until the first race.

"This meeting is all about Nicky Henderson," one punter said at the Premier Suite bar a minute ago. I've looked into how much this meeting is about Nicky Henderson for you and it is quite amazing. Henderson has saddled 87 runners at this fixture in the last decade. He has sent out 24 winners in that time. Even last year the message hadn't sunk through as his three winners returned 5-1, 12-1 and a massive 25-1. His stable is churning out winners at the moment, too. He's got Bellvano in the 12.45pm, Erzen and Busker Royal in the 1.20pm, Long Run in the Feltham at 1.55pm, Binocular in the Christmas Hurdle, Barbers Shop in the King George. Watch out for Wogan and Polyfast in the lucky last though. From five runners he's saddled two winners and a runner-up in that race the last ten years.

11.50am
How good is Kempton's clerk of the course, eh? All those people who try to portray racing officials as useless old men with beetroot and bulbous noses should be ashamed of themselves. Barney Clifford has done a marvellous job here over the past fortnight. He covered the entire course to prevent the snow and frost from stopping racing. In 2006 Kempton was covered in a breathable fleece, too. I mean why can't other courses be as up-to-date as Kempton? It beggars belief. It is like the other day when Britain was frozen to a standstill. Heathrow, Luton, Gatwick and London City airports all ground to a halt, but Stansted was like the Everready rabbit, still going strong. It's amazing how some people get it so right, while others get it so wrong.

11.30am
Merry Christmas to all of you and welcome to the blogtastic stream of consciousness from Kempton's Christmas meeting. I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday and have not got back on the bandwagon this morning and stuffed your faces once more. I feel poisoned by animal fat. I shied away from any foodstuffs this morning that had any fat in them. I just couldn't bring myself to eat anything that vaguely resembled the mountain of food that passed my lips yesterday. I feel like a Foie Gras goose.

If you have been hiding in a dark cave for the past few weeks, or simply have returned from somewhere important like Afghanistan, then you can be forgiven for not knowing that Kauto Star bids for his fourth King George in succession this afternoon. We are gunning for a bit of history here at a blue skies and sunny Kempton today.

After his narrow verdict over Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase, National Hunt's greatest draw card was a shade of odds-on for today's Christmas cracker. He now trades at [1.61] on Betfair, which is interesting when you consider that last year he was 10-11, and 4-6 and 8-13 in the years before that. Remember though that trainer Paul Nicholls has gone on record to say that Kauto is perhaps in the best form that he has ever been in ahead of his now-traditional festive engagement. That price looks about right. I'm not a backer nor a layer, just yet.

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