Arthur,the year he beat Denman was a fairly slow run race as well,nothing like what Denman did the previous year when taking it up with a circuit to go.As regards Neptune and Exotic they were good consistent yardsticks who ran well in the race,but even so i dont regard either as proper GC horses and would always expect Kauto to beat them,as he did when not at his best when Denman won.
Anyway,i am in no way having a pop at Kauto,just voicing an opinion that King George is his ideal race,and Gold Cup is not.

agreed buddelia, but he very easily could get a third Gold Cup, he might very well get the slow pace eric reckons he needs. There isn't that much coming through, It's between him and Imperial, I've a fancy for Bensalem though, his rum behind Quevega at Punchestown was excellent and I'd expect him to go very close in the Hennesey

Kauto has made more mistakes at Chelteham than in all his other races combined. Its a very difficult course but Kauto Star can win again on good ground or quicker, if he cuts out the mistakes. But if `Ifs and Buts were Pots and Pans, then we would all be scrap metal workers`

Very good horse, wont win this season, should bow out at Kempton, as for gold cup winners, wasnt as good as best mate.

agree with neil, would not get close to Kauto.

Yep, looking forward to Weird Al being crowned the the Gold Cup winner CV.

Kauto has never raced against any great horses other than Denman who has beaten him in 2 Gold Cups before going on to be stuffed at Aintree normally. Great speed horse and needs the right pace and going at Cheltenham to beat handicappers.

Denman, Neptune Collonges & Exotic Dancer are not exactly handicappers.

C'mon Kauto fell in the gold cup, so by your logic Snoopy Loopy is better than Kauto because he won the Betfair Chase a few years back.

I'm certain Denman wouldn't have beaten Kauto in the gold cup had the latter not fallen, Denners left himself at Newbury. Fantastic horse the he was, that 2nd Hennessy win is without doubt the best race I've ever seen.

It's a shame that people love to knock great horses rather than celebrate them. I feel privilaged that I've witnessed horses like Istabraq, Moscow and Kauto. A pity others dont.

I couldnt agree more

I think most people will only truely appreciate what a great horse Kauto is when he is no longer around.

Cast your mind back to War of Attritions 2006 gold cup win & what a poor field that was.

Nobody said he wasn't a great horse but without fences they call it flat racing. Denman was the better staying chaser when well as their record against each other shows however Kauto is the most versatile horse at the top level you could hope to see and a greater King George horse you won't see.

kauto star

193 king george 2009
186 gold cup 2009

Denman

182 Hennessy 2009
182 Gold cup 2008

the ratings say kauto star has ran better races than denman has ever ran over 3m+

Denman is an amazing horse and will be down in history as he should be with his performances he put in over the years but kauto star has it all in black and white more grade ones more gold cups better ratings i think denman will be remembered the same as Mill House an amazing horse who would have won all the best races over and over if only there wasnt a superstar at that time.

Denman is a great horse and im not saying he isnt but to say he surpass anything kautos done over 3m+ is a stupid statement in my eyes and i hope Denman wins the Betfair chase this year.

I think I already said it is two wins to Denman and only one to Kauto and that being when Denman had a heart problem and was ridden totally against his own strengths as a result. If anyone is Mill House over staying trips 3m+ it is Kauto.

eric i dont wanna argue over this as its a subject that can go on and on but apart from picking out that kauto won a gold cup denman won a gold cup and then the other time kauto star fell in a race that denman still couldnt win can you back your statements up with a bit of detail please.

At trips over greater than 3m where his speed comes less to the fore and his stamina and jumping are tested more he has lost 3 of his last 4 runs falling in only one of those. His win was against an ill Denman ridden totally against his own strengths and his only other win over a staying trip he beat handicappers in a weak Gold Cup.

yapping to yourself auld son

nice research eric, now whilst your looking up things find the news clips of qoutes from Ruby Walsh

2008 gold cup quote from ruby stateing kauto didnt feel right on the first circuit and that his pre race injury took effect.

2010 gold cup how he felt they was going a slow gallop the first few fences up to his first mistake were he nearly landed on top of carruthers the fence before which might have put kauto off at the next one causing him to wind himself on the fence.

end of thread for me eric but it was a nice discussion with yourself and hope for pleasant and happy punting on here for yourself.

Good luck mate ... Best not to listen to jockeys but to form your own opinions based on fact and the facts show Kauto is predominantly a speed horse whose qualities are diluted when he has to bring more stamina and jumping ability to the table over trips greater than 3m especially when there is a pace on as the jockey wants to save his speed.

By the way, I too thought Denman's heart injury was a lot worse than it actually is.

Read this, http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/feb/02/denman-return-action-newbury-vets-heart-condition

t-condition