Shan banishes Christmas Blues in Kauto Star Triumph

Shan Blue kept his unbeaten record over fences intact and made it 3 out of 3 for the season when taking his first Grade 1 in the Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton Park.

Shan Blue, winner of the Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton. Photo from his third place at Warwick in the Leamington Novices Hurdle in January.

Sent off the 7/4F Favourite, he showed an emphatic display to grab a maiden Grade 1 victory, defeating the fancied The Big Breakaway, who stayed on tenaciously but couldn’t quite reel in the winner.

Setting off at the beginning of a 3 mile trip around Kempton, Shan Blue was always handy, putting in some great leaps over the first few fences, jockey Harry Skelton having to rein him in to conserve some energy. The same couldn’t be said about If The Cap Fits, who was being rousted along by Daryl Jacob after putting in some poor jumps and taking a while to warm up.

Kalooki went left at the second fence, the first open ditch, which dropped him down to 4th from 2nd, but was back alongside Shan Blue very shortly down the back.

In a race where aside from the early errors and somewhat sloppy jumps from If The Cap Fits, there was not much to describe until Harry decided to stretch the field going down the back. At 5 out Shan Blue put in a massive leap, winging it and getting plenty off the bridle. Kalooki went left and began dropping back. failing to go with him, whilst all bar Golan Fortune and The Big Breakaway looked like they had any chance of striking a blow.

Swinging in The Big Breakaway looked to be the final challenger as Shan Blue went over 3 out with a two length lead. Golan Fortune dropped away and the front two set off to slug it out to the penultimate fence. Shan Blue got the better leap and kept a two length lead going to the last, Robbie Power rousting along his mount coming to the last.

Shan Blue was accurate at the last, while The Big Breakaway hit it and slithered a little on landing, and whilst he does have an engine to him, he couldn’t reel in the simply imperious winner, who secured a much deserved Grade 1 for himself and his connections.

Speaking afterwards to the media, with many on Zoom due to the media restrictions that have been imposed since June, Harry Skelton was very philosophical on the horse and any future plans.

“Dan and I spoke on the way down on how to ride him”. “Kalooki ( noting his previous run at Newbury ) jumps left, so be brave and try to dominate from the front”.

“He has too much pace for RSA, so the drop back to 2 and a half is no problem.”

He stated that the jumping is a “massive aspect to him, constantly looking for his next fence and chomping, grabbing the bit! He ran with the choke out after 2 miles, so 3 mile round Cheltenham is a bit too much for him”.

He’s a big, robust horse. Wont rule anything out but an RSA isn’t the most likely race we will go for. Dan will discuss with Colm on his next run. A flatter track is better for him. Lot of options in the Spring for him.

Adding to his notes post races, he mentioned it was a first Grade 1 winner for Colm Murphy, the owner, declaring he is “a great supporter of ours!”

Referring back to the horse and any future plans, he stated that “he will have a days hunting, always looking for his next fence! He’s a tough horse. Was always going to transform when he sees a fence. Dan’s done a brilliant job!”

The trainer then took his seat at the table for the assembled and online media, and again reiterated that the horse may not line up in the 3 mile test for novices on the Wednesday at the Festival in March.

( He’s ) not necessarily a Cheltenham Horse. RSA could be a real stretch for him”. However, he was more forthcoming asbout the horse, rather than his future plans. “You’re seeing a really, really good horse. Won’t have heard of him as a hurdler”!

“I had him declared on the abandoned Peterborough Chase card ( at Huntingdon earlier this month ) as he can be gassy, and we wanted to get that out of him. He can be exuberant and we need to protect him from that”.

“We could look at the Scilly Isles en-route to Cheltenham, where he will be entered in both the Marsh and RSA”.

If he is entered in the Marsh Chase at Cheltenham on the Thursday at the Festival, he may resent some threat to Envoi Allen. In any case, it was a richly deserved victory today for him, as he has shown huge potential in the past, and it is certainly a Boxing Day to remember for his connections!