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I don’t think he would stay although perfectly capable of winning a Gold Cup, and I hope he does next March. I also think the Aintree fences would be too unforgiving, despite recent modifications, if he made a mistake such as today, and I would hate to see him hurt. I’d like to know what Ruby Walsh’s opinion would be on an entry for him, just out of interest.
Watching the dramatic Betfair Chase today made me think that Kauto really wants a trip more than ever, as others have been saying for a while…and that he would stay the National distance on decent ground, i.e.: not a bog.
Imho, I do not think he is a dodgy jumper….a horse does not win the quality races he has won by being "iffy" at a fence. Yes, he does make the odd howler (which he often gets away with), but invariably he is economical and slick. He jumped the last well today, yet crumpled on landing as if tired (?)….confusing, as I think he would have won otherwise.
He has shown his fencing prowess in Tingle Creeks AND King Georges/Gold cups.
Weight can beat any horse, agreed, but he is VERY classy.
Zip
Kauto Star for The National? It won’t happen, but if Rough Quest can negotiate them, KS certainly could!
John Francombe was spot-on when he said that, despite the errors, he never looks like falling. Remember, he didn’t fall today. Despite doing the splits, he stayed on his feet and technically unseated his rider.
He’s generally a good jumper and very clever when he makes a mistake – some of his leaps today were awesome. His overall record is very impressive – you don’t win big prizes as often as he does if you can’t jump.
If he competed in a race over The National fences, like the Becher, he’d complete the course, in my opinion.
Kauto Star is a dodgy jumper and always has been, how he competed in France with their fences which make ours look pathetic god only knows.
Kauto Star never ran over fences in France, only hurdles.
I stand corrected,the french cannot be knocked over unless you are ridding a shire horse. English hurdles are horrid things.
He still makes jumping errors.
The whole 2 1/2 mile myth was really started by Nicky Henderson, no one else, and it seems to involve horses he was connected with.
Gay Trip was by the 10 x champion NH stallion Vulgan who, wait for it, sired two other Grand National winners. The fact that Gay Trip was so successfully campaigned over 2 1/2 miles just goes to show that he was a classy individual to win over that distance when his pedigree suggested he would stay much further.
However, Classified blows the 2 1/2 mile theory out of the water because he blatantly didn’t get home at Aintree when holding every chance on two occasions. I don’t recall The Tsarevich getting his head in front either nor Zongalero. Zongalero was always regarded as a 2 1/2 mile horse too but if my memory serves me well he was also succesful over three and ran some cracking races in big staying chases.
2 1/2 miles horses DON’T win Nationals.
Neither Kauto Star nor Gungadu have the proverbial cat in hell’s chance of getting home in the National (the latter will struggle to stay today IMO). If he could jump a bit more consistently, I’d much rather consider Exotic Dancer for the National.
If Kauto Star did compete in the National – though I can’t see it ever happening – the chances of him completing the course, let alone winning, would be very slim indeed.
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Wonderful performance.
Is that close to his best? It wasnt the toughest field but if VPU did stay then tats a fair benchmark
Yes brilliant performance from the horse,looked to be travelling alot better today through the race.
Some poor performances ie Our Vic went out like a light and Air Force One didnt jump and struggled.
The one issue i have is all the arse licking from the press i t does my head in!!!!!!
I make it 182 today. If you look at Kauto’s form, four times he’s run to 180 on my ratings and three of those have been in the King George at Kempton, simply he loves the place and is probably a better horse there than anywhere else.
In 2008 he’s won 3 Grade Ones and been 2nd in a Gold Cup yet he’s supposedly on the wane!
A brilliant performance from a great racehorse today – undoubtedly the second best steeplechaser I have ever seen.
Just a shame he happens to be around at the same time as the greatest I’ve ever seen, who will once again brutally expose Kauto’s jumping flaws if the two meet in the Gold Cup.
I don’t think he’s been away, just going the wrong way round – that’s seven consecutive Grade 1 chase wins on right-handed tracks, the last six by a wide margin every time.
Yes an excellent performance by a top chaser.
Not sure if he can get another Gold Cup but aslong as he gets held up as opposed to being ridden handily then who knows what will happen in March.
VPU ran a sound race and looks like the Ryanair and Melling Chases will be his main targets.
Albertas Run ran a career best but will be tricky to place as the handicapper will now put him up a hell of a lot in weight.
Snoopy Loopy will not win another race now, That Haydock win has demolished his hanidcap rating and he his suffering from 3 tough races in a row.
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