Kauto Star and History.

My main task on Christmas Eve is to make sure I get the video recorder working for Boxing Day, so I can record Kauto Star winning The King George VI Chase 3.05 Kempton for the fourth successive year. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to slip away during the second course of lovely cold ham and mustard and before the christmas pudding returns to get a live viewing. For those people attending Kempton Park I’m sure that they will give Kauto Star the kind of ovation that was reserved for Desert Orchid. Of course there are the doubters out there who wish to oppose Kauto Star at his prohibitive betting odds at 4/7 on and who are mainly focussed on Madison du Berlais and Imperial Commander as potential winners. I’m looking at place value only with Barbers Shop and Old Vic. Barbers Shop 16/1 has been steadily improving and I think he will find the 3m of Kempton on a flat track more much in his favour than the challenges of Cheltenham and The Hennessey at Newbury. Old Vic at 50/1 is really being saddled with a hefty weight of sentimentality from me. He looked great before the Boylesports at Cheltenham the other week and it was a pity that his jockey’s sat nav stopped working after the second fence. Although Old Vic was second in 2007, he was

pulled up last year but I think based on his current condition he will get a place.
From a wine perspective I will be settling down to enjoy a glass of Sogrape Pena de Pato, Dao, Portugal, 2006, £6.99. Stockists: Majestic and Waitrose. The Dao region is one of the most exciting wine regions in Portugal. This red includes some of the top quality varietal Touriga Nacional (associated mainly with the Douro) in the blend and it is an excellent example of a modern, medium bodied, intensely fruity and smooth wine with soft tannins from this area. Exciting, quality and smooth are words associated with Kauto Star. He won his first King George in 2006 and I look forward to a majestic winning performance in 2009.
Selections: Kempton Park 3.05 Barbers Shop each way at 16/1 and Our Vic place at 50/1.