The Kauto Star Novices Chase (Tuesday 26 December) is a Grade 1 Novices’ Chase run over 3-miles at Kempton Park, and it is named after the 5-time King George winner Kauto Star. It’s most famous winners are Long Run (2009) who returned to win two King Georg VI Chases over course and distance, whilst 2014 winner Coneygree won the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup as a novice.
Kauto Star Novices’ Chase 2017 10-Year-Trends
- Winners have been aged 4 to 8, with 5 of the last 10 aged 6
- Colin Tizzard has trained 2 of the last 9 winners
- Tom Scudamore has ridden 2 of the last 6 winners
- Winners have been rated between 130 and 161
- Dynaste was the shortest-priced winner at 8/13
- Royal Vacation was the longest-priced winner at 33/1
Kauto Star Novices’ Chase 2017 Horse Racing Preview
Mia’s Storm
Won her last 4 races, with the last two of those being over fences. The first of those saw her beat Elegant Escape comfortably, and she was even more impressive when stepped up to 3-miles when beating some useful mares by a very easy-looking 13-lengths at Market Rasen last time. Looks to have an excellent chance on the form of either of those runs.
Ballyoptic
Also run in two chases but, whilst he was foot-perfect at Exeter on his first start, a couple of blunders on his next start at Cheltenham cost him dearly when finishing second to Black Corton. Those errors are worrying, as his hurdling technique also led to a variety of blunders, and he’s unlikely to get away with any errors in this company.
Black Corton
Won 6 of his 8 chases, including when beaten ¾-length by Elegant Escape at Newbury last time. However, as he was conceding the winner 3lb on that occasion, he could reverse that form here. Trained by Paul Nicholls, who used to train Kauto Star.
Barney Dwan
Won a chase at the fourth time of asking at Market Rasen last time, having been beaten by Ballyoptic at Exeter earlier in the season. Has the ability to win a race of this nature with a clear round of jumping, but is prone to serious errors, including when sprawling here last season in a race he really should have won.
Elegant Escape
Colin Tizzard will be hoping his 5-year-old can give him a third winner of the race in the last 10 years, but this one might need as much luck as last year’s winner Royal Vacation, who was handed the race when Might Bite fell. He was behind Mia’s Storm on chase debut, further behind Ballyoptic next time, and is weighted to get beaten by Black Corton this time around.
Our Kauto Star Novices’ Chase 2017 Preview & Betting Tip: Mia´s Storm
Ballyoptic has the class to win this but, as was the case over hurdles, blunders could hold him back over fences. On a line through Elegant Escape, he should have beaten Black Corton last time, and a clear-round of jumping should see him beat that rival this time. However, the one horse in the field who could go right to the top over fences is Mia’s Storm. She’s travelled and jumped beautifully in her two chase starts, and she’s fancied to outstay her rivals in the closing-stages in receipt of the 7lb mares allowance.