Nicholls has Star choice to make

Paul Nicholls is in no rush to make a decision on whether Kauto Star makes his eagerly-awaited seasonal debut in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal or Haydock's Betfair Chase two weeks later.

The Clive Smith-owned nine-year-old took in both races last year, winning in Co Antrim before a final-fence blunder arguably cost him victory on Merseyside.

However, the dual Gold Cup winner will only be asked to start in one of those two races before his bid to become the first to win a fourth consecutive King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day.

Nicholls said: 'He is in both races and we haven't made a decision either way. Clive is keen to go to Haydock, but he is a good guy and would be happy to go to Down Royal if that's what I wanted.

'Now the rain has arrived we can start thinking about it a bit more, but there is no rush to make a decision.'