Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

THE Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase was yet another race at Kempton’s Christmas fixture to fall to an all-the-way winner, with 7/4 favourite Shan Blue (Dan/Harry Skelton) simply too fluent over his fences for main rival The Big Breakaway (Colin Tizzard/Robbie Power).

The runner-up looked likely to win at the top of the straight, but lost ground at each of the obstacles thereafter, and was three and a quarter lengths adrift at the line, with If The Cap Fits (Harry Fry/Daryl Jacob), whose strong finish flatters him to some degree, the same distance away in third having allowed himself to get tailed off at halfway.

This race was run before the King George, and Skelton’s plan to utilise his mount’s superior technique involved setting a strong pace from the start to put his novice rivals under pressure. As a result, this race was run in a significantly faster time, and race-by-race comparisons are enlightening.

At the last fence on the back straight – four out – Shan Blue was over five seconds faster than Frodon, and it was at this point of the King George that Bryony Frost turned the screw on her rivals. It’s to his credit that Shan Blue kept on as well as he did given his early exertions, and although he was slowing at the finish, it would be unwise to suggest his stamina was ebbing away.

Connections have nominated the Marsh rather than the race formerly known as the RSA as his Cheltenham target, and while than makes sense in terms of looking after the horse, I’ll be surprised if the son of Shantou doesn’t prove best at staying trips in time.

The Big Breakaway ran very well given his jumping is a work in progress, especially with so many of his stablemates failing to fire of late. He’s only a five-year-old after all, and has a physique which promises further improvement over time. He will be suited by a greater test of stamina, and remains one to be positive about when his stable is firing again.

If The Cap Fits finished best of all, but significantly carried no win threat, and is flattered by his official rating in this sphere. He is very smart, but is not a reliable jumper over hurdles or fences, and that tempers enthusiasm with him going forward.