Paul Nicholls has leapt to the defence of Kauto Star as Clive Smith’s chaser attempts to join Desert Orchid by winning the Stan James King George VI Chase three years in succession.

There have been plenty of dual winners of the Christmas cracker but only David Elsworth’s gallant grey and the Dickinsons’ Wayward Lad have won the race more than twice.

As Kauto Star has won the last two renewals immortality awaits but as a French-bred eight-year-old, some suggest he may be possibly past his best, and a laboured display at Haydock last time added fuel to that theory.

However, Nicholls said: "Some people say these French horses don’t hold their form as long but I don’t go along with that.

"I had Royal Auclair running last year as an 11-year-old and Cenkos held his form too. If you look after them it doesn’t matter where they are from, a lot of the Irish horses end up with problems and they hardly run in the early days.

"In some ways I think the French horses have an advantage. When do you want them at their best? At seven or eight or 10 or 11? It’s probably seven or eight.

"You can never take away what he has done. If he didn’t win another race, what he’s done is an incredible record. There’s only really Desert Orchid in modern times who has achieved as much as him over two miles and three.

"We are very happy with him and think he’s as good as ever.”