Star on the drift

/ Editor / 11 February 2007 / Leave a Comment

Kauto Star has eased slightly in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting following a less than convincing victory at Newbury on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls' stable star, who is in line to scoop a £1million bonus for connections if successful on March 16, had to pull out all the stops and survive a last-flight scare to see off French raider L'Ami in the Aon Chase.

Owner Clive Smith was pleased with the win and has just one thing on his mind.

"It was a heart-stopping race but he is some horse. The pleasing thing was that he wanted to go and do it and Ruby (Walsh) said he was very game, which bodes well for Cheltenham," said Smith

"My dream was to win the Gold Cup so I am not really thinking about the Betfair bonus. The rest of it all is an added extra!"

Having traded solidly around 2.52 before Saturday's race, Kauto Star is now easy to back at 2.9 for chasing's blue riband ahead of last year's winner War Of Attrition on 6.2 and Cheltenham specialist Exotic Dancer on 9.