Ruby Walsh will ride Kauto Star while Turpin Green will be another contender.

BBC: McCoy boosts Down Royal meeting

Denman was a short-priced favourite to go one better than when chasing stable-mate Kauto Star in the Gold Cup.

BBC: Dancer dies as star Denman falls

Former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star will be in action in Saturday's JNwine.com Champion Chase - the big race in the two-day festival.

BBC: McCoy boosts Down Royal meeting

And then came the news that the British Horseracing Board rates Kauto Star not very far behind Desert Orchid at his peak in 1990.

BBC: KAUTO STAR - THE NEW DESERT ORCHID?

Kauto Star fell in last year's big race, and although he won well on his seasonal return, he was out of sorts at Kempton.

BBC: Cheltenham: Racing's new order

My raised eyebrows were lowered soon afterwards when Kauto Star positively laughed at his top-notch Haydock rivals, recording an "I was there" performance for all witnesses.

BBC: KAUTO STAR - THE NEW DESERT ORCHID?

But before saddling Kauto Star in what turned out to be his scintillatingly successful first run in a three-mile steeplechase at Haydock, Paul Nicholls did just that.

BBC: KAUTO STAR - THE NEW DESERT ORCHID?

The difference is that Dessie was by that stage 11 years old - a man, if you like - while Kauto Star is a still maturing six.

BBC: KAUTO STAR - THE NEW DESERT ORCHID?

If he does go, it will be for the Ryanair and I have no regrets not entering him for the Gold Cup with Kauto Star and Denman being in there.

BBC: Alain Cawley rides Joncol to win the Hennessy Gold Cup

The champion trainer insists that Kauto Star, who lifted a third King George VI Chase trophy at Christmas, is the one to beat, but there is a glaring statistic against the 2007 Gold Cup winner, as Ruby Walsh once again takes the ride.

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