Trainer expects Kauto Star 4th King George VI win

Kauto Star's trainer expects jump racing's highest-ever rated horse to become the first ever to win the King George VI Chase title four years in a row on Saturday.

Kauto Star has already equaled the three straight wins of legendary gray Desert Orchid in the 4.8-kilometer (3-mile) jump race and is rated an 8-13 favorite by bookmakers to go one better.

That makes him an even stronger favorite than last year and trainer Paul Nicholls will be more surprised if he fails than wins. Officials at Kempton racecourse have already printed No. 4 cards for spectators to wave in honor of the 9-year-old horse.

"Kauto is in great form," Nicholls said. "It is all systems go and there really are no excuses.

"He has been in training a long time. He looks better and is sharper and I couldn't be happier with him at the moment."

Kauto Star won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March by 13 lengths from the Nicholls-trained Denman but was run close in his first race this season before edging Imperial Commander in a photo finish at Haydock last month.

Imperial Commander is rated a 6-1 second favorite at Kempton, and Nicholls said his horse has improved sufficiently since then to prevent such a close race this time.

"He looks great and has come on a ton since Haydock," Nicholls said. "The idea was that race was always going to mentally sharpen him up."

Kauto Star beat Albertas Run by eight lengths last year to match Desert Orchid's 1988-90 streak in the 72-year-old race. Desert Orchid, which also won in 1986, is the only horse to have won four times.

Victory on Saturday would make Nicholls the most successful ever trainer. He also won with See More Business in 1997 and '99.

Madison Du Berlais, the winner of last year's 3.3-mile (5.3-kilometer) Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, is a 10-1 shot and third favorite.