As good as it gets

[Hwjb]

The performance of Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday was one of the finest of all time, and Paul Nicholls' six-year-old is already rated on 184+, level with Moscow Flyer, and behind only true great such as Arkle (212), Flyingbolt (210), Mill House (191), Desert Orchid (187) and Dunkirk (186) since the early-'sixties, that's a remarkable 13lb in advance of last season's Gold Cup winner War of Attrition.

But there was so much more to his runaway victory than sheer figures alone. He travelled with conspicuous ease throughout, his jumping impeccable, before readily shooting 17 lengths clear after the last with Ruby Walsh needing do nothing other than shake the reins. In second was last year's top rated chaser Beef Or Salmon, a measure of the brilliance of the performance. He has now shown he stays 3 miles and the King George looks at his mercy, and he will surely win the Gold Cup if proving his stamina up the Cheltenham hill.

Days like Saturday, and exhilarating performances like Kauto's is why we endure so much low quality racing. Cos, man it makes you appreciate the Champions.