Jukebox aiming to be Kauto Star hit
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Ben Pauling is backing The Jukebox Man to step up to the mark in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day.
The six-year-old has long looked to have all the makings of a very smart horse, with a point-to-point win and two good bumper runs leading into a successful novice hurdling spell last season.
He was a good third in the Challow and then second in both the Albert Bartlett and the Sefton Novices' Hurdle — the former by just a head as he was only marginally outdone by Stellar Story.
Owned by former Premier League football manager Harry Redknapp, the bay then made his chasing debut in the Grade Two John Francome Chase at Newbury in late November and created an instant impression with a two-length victory following a solid round of jumping.
He now steps up to Grade One level over fences, this time to contest the Kauto Star under Ben Jones against four rivals.
"I think we've got a superstar, he's in great order. He couldn't be going there in any better form," said Pauling.
"Whether he's better going left-handed or right-handed, we'll see.
"I don't know how the race might work out, it's a big race but there aren't many in it.
"There might be one that wants to go a good gallop up the front and if there is, we'll just sit in against that.
"He seems in great form, it's a long time since I've had one quite this exciting.
"His jumping is his ace card, he's good at home but he's excellent on course."
Opposing him is Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero's White Rhino, an eight-year-old with two chasing victories on his CV after starting out over obstacles this season.
He won by two lengths on debut and then took a Haydock event by over four lengths next time out, with this Kempton outing a return to a three-mile trip he has been successful over before when hurdling.
Elsewhere in the race is Nicky Henderson's Hyland, a grey son of Turgeon who has won three of his four starts over fences and was impressive when winning twice over three miles and half a furlong at Cheltenham earlier this term.
Alan King's Masaccio, second to The Jukebox Man at Newbury, also lines up, as does Paul Nicholls' Welcom To Cartries.