He was tired as hell coming to the last but he gave it his all for Ruby and absolutely pinged it, An exhibition of jumping to say the least. He beat some good horses in behind, Diamond Harry as a brilliant record when racing fresh, Wierd Al gave a good performance in the Charlie Hall and TFR was nowhere to be seen and Kauto just pounded the lot of them. Im sure Long Run will be back to winning ways soon but on his official rating he should have had enough to beat Kauto today just emphasises how good a performance Kauto put in. Unbelievable today, All the doubters who had written him off can now put that in there pipe. He could have been stuck away in a field instead of putting that kind of performance in today. He should surely go for the King George now....
It was a fantastic tactical ride by Ruby Walsh that won the day for Kauto Star. I must admit that I could envisage Kauto running abysmally and being retired but he was clearly at his best - fiddled the second-last and then a superb leap at the last - as has been seen before, so the older statesman is not passed it quite yet. Clearly Long Run needed the race. He was under pressure quite a distance from home but stayed on resolutely. If there is a rematch at Kempton it should be fascinating to see what tactics everybody adopts given the potential runners.
Nicholls said post-race "Last year at home he always made a noise on the gallops and he wasn't finishing his races, but for some reason this year he's not making any noise at all." Interesting and would seem to fit with what we saw last season. He did stop very quickly in the Gold Cup after looking like the winner down the hill. Perhaps he is just back to something like his best this time. Certainly, dismiss him for the King George at your peril.
Ruby Walsh - http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Walsh_reax.mp3 Paul Nicholls - http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Nicholls.mp3
I suppose I'm going to have to eat some humble pie on this one. I couldn't see him winning, but fair play for proving me wrong. It was a cracking performance, from a horse of his age, and also a great training performance. It makes the KG very interesting, I'm not convinced Long Run was at his best today, so I expect will improve. But KS has thrown his hat back into the ring. Ruby will have a tricky riding decision to make, does he go MM or KS. I'd expect him to go with KS, even if it is purely sentiment. I would be worried though that at KSs age, he could bounce in the KG. That was a hard race today, and we seen how he ran at Punchestown after having a hard race in the Gold Cup. Maybe the reason he ran below par in last years KG, was something to do with having a tough prep race in Ireland. I don't know for sure, but at 11 years old maybe the best time to catch him, was after a long lay off
You miserable bastard Shergar! Edit: Not a chance that Ruby will get off Kauto. He sounded like he was practically in tears after the race. And for that matter I think it's probably the right call because I'm not convinced Master Minded will stay.
zenyatta, i have serious reservations about MM staying as well. I would take Somersby to turn around todays form over 3m. I think he might travel well into the race in the KG but find nowt when asked a question.
In my book Long Run should have won today, He was 12lb clear in the ratings and horses of the past have used this as a stepping stone to the bigger races and won, Like Kauto Star as done for example. His jumping is still not very good Im afraid and he lost ground on Kauto at a few fences. At Kempton this year its not going to get easier, If Master Minded stays he will give him a big run for his money and he cannot afford any jumping errors, Then theres Captain Chris, Somersby all willing to take him on aswell as Kauto Star if connections decide to go for a 5th King George. He will come on massively for this run but at the moment in time 6/4 for the King George... No thanks! By the way I think Kauto broke the track record. 3 mile course record, Morning Moment - 5m 54.70s Good, Kauto Star - 5m 54.30s Good-Soft...
very impressive if he broke the track record setting his own fractions especially at his age and with the amount of racing he has had. superb.
A huge performance. He has essentially broken the track record with no assistance from another horse. He was forcing the pace the whole way and it is a remarkable performance that he was able to keep the gallop up. It is also no wonder that the rest were finding the going tough from a fair way out because the pace he was setting was clearly pretty decent!
not trying to take the gloss of his win today,well deserved but he took 0.4 secs of a haydock 3 mile course record that is relatively new since they changed the courses around a few years ago. moring moment previously had set the course record in a class 4 hcap last month of 113 so dont get into the idea kauto from a time point of view as achieved something special!
You could have fooled Me... The track record is a bonus, The fact that people were crying out for him to be retired not so long ago and then he just proves his doubters wrong, He ran a cracker in the Gold Cup and King George espcially the latter with a reported infection last year regardless of anyone's point of view, His Punchestown run can have a line put through it. He jumped as well as ever and showed all the old Kauto and its a joy to see... I wonder where We will see Denman next this year?
well if thats easy istrabraq.............. come on ,the course as had many alterations but 2 course records were achieved last month by moderate horses
Alot of credit has to go to Paul Nicholls, to keep a horse of KSs breeding on the go for all those years, and still producing performances like that, at a month short of 12yo, is quite remarkable. It just goes to show why he has dominated the trainers championship, in recent seasons
Best horse won on the day and i've never been more delighted to have been wrong,even though,like most,I didn't have a punt. Long Run is high class but ultimately one paced and a galloper.He jumped beautifully but missed the first down the back.I thought SWC panicked a little and drove him into the next two fences where he missed again.I doubt very much it had any impact on the result but it demonstrated the difference very clearly between a professional and an amateur pilot. Well done Kauto....it's what it's all about really...Glorious.
Shergar, you have earnt my respect here, big time. I know you love Denman and feel that if we were to compare the two, he would be on top in your opinion, and I know you said you thought Long Run would have his measure today and also that he would have beaten KS in any of his King George wins, so to hold your hands up and admire Kauto's hugely emotional victory today is most humble of you and I for one greatly appreciate that. I think your high opinion of Long Run is still verified and will prove fruitful in the 'long run' if you excuse the pun. But Kauto, at his age to turn over a class field like that today just about highlights how special he has been as a chaser. Remarkable performance and I am still almost lost for words. Bold, brave, and magical would be three of the words that might fit the performance. I almost broke into tears watching. Terrific discussion pre-race and everyone has been most humble post-race, which is why this forum is as good as it is. Terrific day!
Fantastic to see Kauto Star return to his best at the age of 11. I was one of those who thought he should be retired after last season's Gold Cup but I was clearly wrong. A remarkable training feat by Paul Nicholls. A great day for jump racing.
