Historical Clues: King George VI Chase

Though Kauto Star went on to record a 14 lb-better rating when winning the King George VI Chase in 2009, it was the first of his five wins in the race, in 2006 - hot on the heels of a facile victory in the Tingle Creek - which provided the first rung on the ladder to greatness. The 2006/7 edition of Chasers & Hurdlers explains…

“Not since the days of Desert Orchid had one horse hogged the headlines so much in the build-up to the race. Again odds on, Kauto Star faced eight rivals, including the highest-rated novice chaser of 2005/6 Monet's Garden who had won three times that season and just been touched off by Voy Por Ustedes (who received 5 lb) in the Arkle. Monet's Garden started second favourite at Kempton, ahead of Racing Demon, winner of the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on the same day Kauto Star had won at Haydock. Exotic Dancer was the only other runner to start at single-figure odds.

“Monet's Garden took the eye jumping boldly in front from the third, while Kauto Star was waited with, on the outside of the field in a handy position. Monet's Garden was soon beaten when challenged from the fourth last, which Kauto Star ploughed through, remarkably without losing any ground.

“Taking the lead at the next, Kauto Star was firmly in control from early in the home straight, only to make an even worse mistake at the last where he was clear and completely fluffed his jump.

“Without the mistakes, Kauto Star would have won by further than the eight lengths he finished ahead of Exotic Dancer, who made an equally bad mistake himself two out. Racing Demon came third, repeating his Peterborough Chase form, a length and a quarter behind Exotic Dancer and twenty lengths in front of fourth-placed Monkerhostin who had run Kicking King to a neck in the race twelve months earlier when it was run at Sandown.”

Kauto Star followed up in the AON Chase at Newbury on his next start, before landing his first Cheltenham Gold Cup a month later - a race he would go on to win again in 2009. He finished his career with a peak Timeform rating of 191, a figure equal to that of Mill House, and bettered only by Sprinter Sacre, Flyingbolt and Arkle.

Clue no.1 – In the 2006/7 season, Kauto Star was unbeaten prior to the King George

As you’d expect from such a high-class set of entries, there are several horses who fit this criteria. However, Fox Norton is one who doesn’t, having met with a gallant defeat to Politologue in the Tingle Creek earlier this month, while Whisper is another. He may have produced the best performance of his career when going down by a neck – trying to concede 14 lb - to Total Record in the Ladbrokes Trophy, but it was still a defeat nonetheless.

Other notable contenders who don’t have an unblemished record this season include last year’s King George winner Thistlecrack, beaten on his reappearance in the Long Distance Hurdle last time, and the Betfair Chase third Outlander.

Clue no.2 – Kauto Star was in his third season over fences

Favourite Might Bite fits the bill, having had one start over fences in the 2015/16 season (finished fifth at Cheltenham) before making a proper impression last term, both figuratively and literally given the way he fell at the last in the Feltham over C&D a year ago.

Bristol de Mai also started over fences in the same season, his novice wins including the Scilly Isles at Sandown, but he has really come into his own this term, most notably when running riot in the Betfair Chase last month.

Course specialist Tea For Two also fits the bill, however Irish challenger Disko, who produced a career-best when winning the Titanic Belfast Chase at Down Royal last time, is only in his second season over fences.

Clue no.3 – Kauto Star began his career in France and was six years old when winning his first King George

The eight-year-olds Might Bite and Tea For Two clearly don’t fit this category, however Bristol De Mai, a winner at Auteuil back in 2014 for Guillaume Macaire, ticks the box. Indeed, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge fits all three clue categories and, despite some concerns over the likely quicker ground, looks a major contender in Tuesday’s mouthwatering race.