Kauto Star challenge.

Whatever happens must get to Kempton on boxing day or Cheltenham in March, have to see the champ again, lads we have to make a plan!

Nicholls throws down Kauto race challenge


PAUL NICHOLLS has thrown down a challenge to Jockey Club Racecourses planners to frame a race that will keep Kauto Star in England before he bids for a fourth win in the King George VI Chase, which will be sponsored by William Hill for the first time this year.

Nicholls revealed on Wednesday that Gold Cup winner Kauto Star was likely to have only one race before appearing at the newly-titled Winter festival at Kempton, where William Hill have signed a four-year sponsorship deal.

"He'll possibly go to Down Royal," Nicholls said. "There's nothing in this country, unless someone comes up with something."

Explaining this year's outline plan, Nicholls said: "I'm not keen on Haydock, because things haven't gone great there, and these days the more space I can get between Kauto's races the better."

Nicholls' challenge was not lost on JCR racing director John Smee, who responded: "It's something we will look at. With all due respect to Down Royal, we'd rather have Kauto Star running in England than Northern Ireland."

Kempton managing director Amy Starkey, who negotiated with Williams Hill after previous sponsor Stan James sought a one-year extension to their Christmas festival deal, said that this year's King George prize-money would remain at the 2008 level of £220,000. A total of £650,000 will be up for grabs over the two days.

As well as covering the Christmas programme, William Hills's sponsorship deal - the company's biggest package - is spread over a dozen meetings and takes in races offering £5 million prize-money over the period of the contract, to which the bookmaker is providing more than £1m.

Backing extends to eight winter Flat fixtures, the Lanzarote and Dovecote Hurdles, the Rosebery and Magnolia Stakes, and jump programmes this month and in October.