William Hill Handicap Hurdle & Tingle Creek

Last season's winner of the William Hill Tingle Creek Chase, Kauto Star, is a hot favourite to run away again with this year's renewal at Sandown Park on Saturday, yet may not have it all his own way against a potentially high-quality field at the 5-day declaration stage. The Paul Nicholls-trained six year old will tackle the 2-mile distance for the first time since he fell in last years' Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Regular jockey Ruby Walsh will be aiming to steer his mount to a comfortable victory and cement Kauto Star's position at the head of the betting for the 2007 Queen Mother Champion Chase. The sponsors of Saturday's big race, William Hill reacted to the news of Kauto Star's confirmed run, by making him a 4/7 chance to win the race, although punter's intent on backing the favourite can get 4/6 at both VC Bet and Stan James. Those foreseeing an easy victory for Kauto Star may be well-advised to avail themselves of some ante-post Cheltenham vouchers for the 2007 Queen Mother Champion Chase and take the 5/1 available at VC Bet. These odds will surely contract if he does run out an easy victor.Elsewhere in the race, Alan King's 2006 Arkle hero, Voy Por Ustedes, a pacy, accurate runner, will provide formidable opposition and is available at 7/2 with Ladbrokes, whilst JP McManus's could potentially be double-handed in the race, with the Thierry Doumen-trained Foreman, third to Voy Por Ustedes in the Arkle, a 7/1 shot with Stan James and the Mouse Morris-trained Fota Island, second in last year's Champion Chase, available at 14's with Ladbrokes,.Selection: Voy Por Ustedes 2pt win. (Stan James)Latest prices for Saturday's Tingle Creek race at Sandown Park, with sponsors William Hill, are: Kauto Star 4-7, Voy Por Ustedes 7-2, Foreman 7-1, Central House, Fota Island 11-1, Armaturk, Ashley Brook 16-1, Cerium, Dempsey 25-1, 33-1 Bar.