Haydock Park

Aintree Racecourse

Buckler & McCain Outline
Aintree Plans

Nicholls Would Welcome Exotic Dancer Pacemaker

My Way De Solzen Primed to Take on Kauto Star in The Betfair Chase

Bowen & Murphy Outline totesport.com Becher Chase Plans

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Another Successful Northwest Racing Masters
25/11/07

Today’s racing at Aintree concluded a third successful year of the Northwest Racing Masters.

Julian Thick, Managing Director at Aintree, commented: “Mr Pointment’s success in the totesport.com Becher Chase provided the perfect highlight to the second day of the Northwest Racing Masters.

“Today offers the only opportunity outside of the Grand National meeting for horses to experience the unique challenges of the Grand National fences at Aintree and provides a perfect stepping-stone for the John Smith’s Grand National.

“It is very satisfying to see Mr Pointment emerge as a serious challenger for the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National.

“There was something on offer for everyone at Aintree today and there were plenty of people here to enjoy the day.

“What a weekend it has been for Paul Nicholls and Sam Thomas and we send our warmest congratulations to everyone involved.”

SUNDAY PAPERS PRAISE KAUTO AND THOMAS

The Sunday papers united in their praise for yesterday's Betfair Chase hero Kauto Star and his jockey Sam Thomas.

KAUTO STILL KING stated the front of the Racing Post as Tom O’Ryan went on to say: “Kauto Star, beaten at Aintree four weeks ago, put himself firmly back in the spotlight that he hogged exclusively last season with a brave and thrilling win in the the Betfair Chase as got the better of old adversary Exotic Dancer by half a length.”

Lee Mottershead, also of the Racing Post, observed: “The horse who raced so lethargically at Aintree just a month earlier was once again the animal we had marvelled at last season. It was all as it used to be, but at times better, for his mighty leaps at the final two ditches brought ‘oohs’ from the crowd not heard since Desert Orchid dazzled. And then, when the going got tough, how he battled. Maybe now the critics will finally be silenced.”

Ray Gilpin of the Sunday Times wrote: "There was no more than a blink of an eye in it, but Kauto Star is still shining brightly and on the trail of another £1 million payoff following his narrow success over Exotic Dancer in a thrilling renewal of the £200,000 Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock."

Sue Montgomery, writing in the Independent On Sunday, said: "Are you watching, Scott Carson? Big-race rookie Sam Thomas rose to the occasion here yesterday, defying any nerves and pressure to steer Kauto Star back to winning ways. Thomas, replacing injured Ruby Walsh on the Paul Nicholls-trained champion chaser, remained ice-cool in a crucible of scrutiny with much at stake – a considerable step on his burgeoning career, the horse's reputation and the small matter of a £1 million – and almost nonchalantly secured victory by half a length."

The headline in the Observer read "No doubting Thomas as Star shines bright" as Eddie Fremantle went on to say: "Kauto Star earned his fourth, and most hard-fought, verdict over old rival Exotic Dancer in the Betfair Chase to give stand-in jockey Sam Thomas by far the biggest win of his career."

Over in the Sunday Telegraph, Brough Scott wrote: "It's not just the opportunity but the way you take it. Few sportsmen have ever stepped up to the plate quite as convincingly as Sam Thomas did when he took over the ride on Kauto Star from the injured Ruby Walsh at Haydock and landed two other winners into the bargain."

Jonathan Powell of the Mail On Sunday said: "Kauto Star is on course for another massive bonus after returning to form with a vibrant success in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. Doubts raised by his recent defeat at Aintree were brushed aside as he landed the first leg of a treble that can earn his connections a pot of £1 million from yesterday's sponsors for the second year running."

THOMAS LOOKS TO BETTER THINGS

Sam Thomas, who was given the opportunity to ride Kauto Star in yesterday’s Betfair Chase due to an injury to regular jockey Ruby Walsh, did not let connections down, giving the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner a superb ride to win by half a length. He is hoping that his profile and career improve as a result.

He said: “I haven’t had a chance to look back at the race, but tonight I’ll have a look at the replays and it will sink in - it all happened so quickly yesterday.

“Obviously, it was a great day and hopefully it will be a stepping stone in my career as people who have not seen me performing before at the weekends will have spotted me now.

“During the week trainers and racing regulars have probably already noticed me, but hopefully a broader scale of people will have seen me now.

“I spoke to both of my parents last night and they were very proud. My dad was at Haydock and he was lost for words, but they are both over the moon.

“I will take whatever comes along now and I have shown that I am capable of riding on big race days and hopefully a few more opportunities will come along now.

“Paul [Nicholls, Kauto Star’s trainer] and Mr Smith [Clive Smith, Kauto Star’s owner] gave me the opportunity and I am glad that it all paid off.”

Thomas went on to ride a 39.5/1 treble yesterday, having also partnered Lightning Strike in the opening Betfair Poker Newton Novices’ Hurdle and Opera Mundi in the Betting As It Should Be Handicap Chase to victory.

Today he gets the leg up on two Nicholls runners - Turthen in the totepool Grand Sefton Handicap Chase and Mr Pointment in the feature totesport.com Becher Handicap Chase.

“I am looking forward to riding both of them and they probably both have a good chance,” he added.

TIMEFORM ASSESSMENT OF BETFAIR CHASE

Timeform spokesman Kieran Packman commented today following Kauto Star’s second victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park yesterday on the first day of the 2007 Northwest Racing Masters: “We have rated Kauto Star as running to the same figure as he returned at Aintree on his reappearance, so just shy of his peak rating (put up at Aintree last autumn), with Exotic Dancer putting up a career-high and Beef Or Salmon not far off matching his best efforts of last season.

“A time comparison, although slightly hampered by worsening conditions, puts Kauto Star's run some 30lb ahead of handicap winner Opera Mundi.

“All in all, yesterday just confirmed again the impression that we have had since last year’s Old Roan Chase - that Kauto Star is an outstanding chaser. A second Betfair Million win looks a distinct possibility.

"As for My Way de Solzen, he did have 23lb to find with the winner on bare form going into the race but, on reflection, given the way he travelled through the race, left us to conclude that the race would bring him on in terms of fitness.”

Adapted from a Timeform press release