Stan James King George VI Chase Tips

The Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star dispelled any doubts surrounding his stamina when destroying his rivals in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday when racing over three miles for the first time in his career. The six-year-old jumped with pinpointed accuracy en route to slamming a star-studded field in the Grade 1 chase, beating Beef Or Salmon by an impressive 17 lengths. The gelding's owner, Clive Smith, could now be in line for a cool £1million bonus if Kauto Star goes onto land the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. As short as 11/10 in places, the French import is a best-priced 6/4 with Ladbrokes to win the Stan James-sponsored Boxing Day showpiece at Kempton, while he and last season's hero, War Of Attrition, are neck and neck at the head of the market for jump racings blue riband at the Cheltenham Festival. Kauto Star has improved markedly for stepping up in trip and Nicholls has conceded that he was trying to win the Champion Chase with a Gold Cup horse last season. War Of Attrition was beaten a neck by Beef Or Salmon in a thrilling finish to the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 4 and while it was a tad disappointing that the 4/7 favourite was turned over, he generally gets better as the season goes on and will leave that form behind in due course. Mouse Morris' charge remains the one to beat at Cheltenham in March as things currently stand because, unlike Kauto Star, the Irish raider is proven over three three-mile, two-furlongs of Prestbury Park's unique undulations. Kauto could well be something very special, but the Gold Cup is a unique test and is not always necessarily won by the most talented horse. Racing Demon laid down his marker with an impressive victory in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Saturday - providing trainer Henrietta Knight with her seventh victory in the Grade 2 race in the process. Knight has stated that she feels that the media have made too much of Racing Demon's propensity to jump to the right. But anyone that witnessed him jump violently to the right when running loose in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter - and when jumping the last fence on Saturday - could not help be concerned by this trait, especially in the context of his prospects on a left-handed track like Cheltenham. The son of Old Vic is a top-priced 8/1 with Paddy Power for the King George and is available at 25s with the same firm for the Gold Cup. There is no doubt that he possess oodles of ability, despite his quirks, which also include an ungainly low head carriage, but while he shapes as though he will stay three miles all right, he does still have a fair bit to prove if he is to be up to King George or Gold Cup class. Monet's Garden is 11/2 with VCBet (just 3/1 with Hills) for the King George, and is generally 14s for the Gold Cup, but available at 16/1 with Stanjames for the Festival highlight. The forgotten horse Kicking King, winner of the last two King George's and the penultimate renewal of the Gold Cup, is freely available at 8/1 to get back on track this term and regain his Cheltenham crown.