Weekend Runners / Timeform / 17 January 2011 / 1

Reports of Kauto Star's demise have been greatly exaggerated according to his connections, who have adopted the Mark Twain-approach following calls for the gelding's retirement in the aftermath of his failure to land a record-breaking fifth win in the King George VI Chase.

Although there must be a chance that age, plus wear and tear, is beginning to catch up on Kauto Star, it is surely too soon to be writing this top-class chaser off just yet after his nineteen lengths third to Long Run. Indeed, he'd probably have finished runner-up but for a bad mistake two out on Saturday, whilst the fact he didn't travel with his usual fluency suggests he may simply have had an off-day. This view was backed up by the news that Kauto Star was found to have bled slightly afterwards, whilst Timeform's paddock judge on duty at Kempton reported that he seemed ill at ease beforehand. These factors may well have been as a result of the three-week delay from the race's original planned date, and it is noticeable that several of Kauto Star's rivals also failed to give their running, including stable-companion The Nightingale, who was found to have a fibrillating heart after struggling a surprisingly long way out.

Paul reports that Kauto Star is still on course to try and win a third Cheltenham Gold Cup win in March and, ironically, it could be that he's better suited by that track than Kempton nowadays. In any case, even if Kauto Star isn't the force of old, it should be noted that he'll still hold place claims in the Cheltenham showpiece if judged on this season's form alone.

Kauto Star's defeat wasn't the yard's only disappointment on Saturday's high-profile card, which saw Paul's grip on the trainers' championship title come under threat following a remarkable five-timer by Nicky Henderson. A comparison of the two yards since the New Year reveal that Paul's team is in mixed form at present - he has saddled just five winners from forty-four runners this month (11% strike rate), as opposed to Henderson's twenty-two wins out of fifty-four attempts (41%!).

This current inconsistency was very much in evidence at Kempton, with Escort'men joining Kauto Star and The Nightingale in flopping in Grade 1 company. Admittedly, the five-year-old faced a stiff task in the Christmas Hurdle, but there was clearly more to his subdued performance than that. In addition, the well-fancied Like Minded was found wanting in the latter stages when only ninth in the Lanzarote Hurdle, though that may well have had something to do with his lack of a recent outing and he should come on for the outing, with fences an interesting option for him too.

By contrast, stable second string Organisateur excelled himself under top weight in the Lanzarote, running to an impressive Timeform rating of 159 in chasing home James de Vassy, despite a momentary glitch when jinking violently left two out. He saw the longer trip out well and is clearly one of the most improved horses in training, bordering on high class now.

Pepe Simo was another who performed well at Kempton despite having to settle for the runner-up spot, failing by a length to overhaul the Henderson-trained Nadiya de La Vega in the two-mile novice chase. In common with Organisateur, Pepe Simo emerged as the best horse at the weights, whilst the fact his jumping was more assured than previously is clearly a positive looking forward.

The Reformer could manage only third behind another Henderson inmate, Chablais, in the twenty-one furlong novice hurdle, running creditably on form without finding quite the expected improvement for that step-up in trip. Third place was also the best that hurdling debutant Brampour could manage in the opening juvenile, in the process losing his lofty position in the ante-post betting for the Triumph Hurdle - a subject Paul was very vocal about in last week's Betfair column. This defeat may have dented Brampour's big-race aspirations, but he's still entitled to improve for this initial experience, particularly given his useful Flat form.

Although Paul drew a blank from eight runners at Kempton, he was on the scoresheet with his only representative at Ffos Las on Sunday, where Carlicue made light of a three-month absence to land the odds in a staying maiden hurdle. The presence of a tongue strap suggests he's had the odd problem but, even so, there was plenty to like about his performance and he remains open to improvement granted a similar test of stamina.

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1. anom | 18 January 2011

   i think it is to quick to write kauto of yet i have never seem him jump as bad as that even before his mistake some horses are suited by mccoy some aint this horse clearly isnt . i think he went a little bit to wide on him also still could be a huge price the tens available ,im on him anyway has his first run out this year when he clearly needed it wasnt that bad i am afraid of his jumping more than his age but i am sure by then paul will sort that out

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