Kempton treble for Kauto

Kauto Star made it a hat-trick of wins in the Stan James King George VI Chase with another dominant display at Kempton.

The Paul Nicholls trained eight-year-old came into the Boxing Day meeting having been surprisingly beaten last time out at Haydock.

However, he eased to a superb 10th Grade One victory, joining the great Desert Orchid in becoming the only horses to triumph in the race three years in succession.

Albertas Run kept pace before fading away into a distant second eight lengths back, while Voy Por Ustedes came home in third.

Plans

Nicholls was full of praise for Kauto Star after the race, confirming that he would not now run until bidding to win the Gold Cup again.

"I wish some people would give him the respect he deserves," he said afterwards. "I'm so pleased for the horse, not anyone else, just him.

"I wish I hadn't run him last time at Haydock - it was not Sam Thomas' finest hour but we knew we had him back.

"When he's right, he's a very good horse. He definitely won't run before the Gold Cup and I can safely say he will only have the one run next year before the King George."

Although there were some dodgy moments in the opening stages, Kauto Star never looked like falling and paddled through the final fence when well clear, much to the delight the majority of punters and lucky owner Clive Smith.

"Ruby said they went too fast early on so he just hung back before he made his effort in the last half-mile," he said afterwards.

"You need pace to lay up with them though and undoubtedly he was on top form today. He was as stylish as he has ever been and now we can all look forward to the rest of the season."