Kauto Star finished off his stunning 2008 with a victory in in the King George VI Chase to wrap up our Christmas weekend in some style

King George VI Chase from Kempton, Boxing Day

A race that at the beginning of the season looked a gimme for Kauto Star to complete a hat-trick of wins now looks less of a certainty after his below par run at Haydock Park in the Betfair Chase.

Whatever slightly left of centre excuse Paul Nicholls has put up for his charge at the Lancashire track the basic premise of his argument remains valid, that the North West venue for some unknown reason just doesn’t suit the current holder at all.

I have always thought that this top class chaser is best going right-handed in any case and after last year’s battle with Exotic Dancer, the Star eased home back at his favourite venue.

Obviously with another year under his belt, he may not be as good a horse as last year and many other stables have recognised this and we could unusually have a double figure field on our hands here, but were Kauto Star run to within 7lbs pounds of his 2007 run then I believe he would still be good enough to win a third title.

Of his rivals, Air Force One, cracking second in the Hennessy, Imperial Commander, brilliant winner of the Paddy Power along with Voy Por Ustedes and Tidal Bay all have claims to make them play a part in the race.

Air Force One is a stayer pure and simple and as much as he will like the likely better ground here I have a feeling he will needs more of a test of stamina over this trip.

Of course it is the reverse with Voy Por a winner over Master Minded over two and a half miles at Aintree last spring. I feel he will stay if he can be settled early on and a big run looks assured.

I am still not sure if Tidal Bay jumps well enough at this level to do himself justice and it seems Imperial Commander possibly running here after the Boylesports was called off was more of an afterthought than anything else and he maybe a better animal on limited evidence that left handed is his domain.

So with question marks, mostly minor rather than major about his rivals, I fancy Kauto Star to bounce back to record a third success in the race without having to be at his best and take care of Voy Por Ustedes.