Racing:Although Paul Nicholls confessed to suffering from some pre-race nerves before the King George VI Chase, Kauto Star's jockey Ruby Walsh is not feeling the pressure as the team prepare for their next test at Newbury tomorrow.
The popular Irishman has proved a key component in the success story of the season, which has seen the Clive Smith-owned seven-year-old record three successive Grade One victories in electrifying fashion.
And while Walsh realises his mount is widely expected to brush aside the Aon Chase opposition with the minimum of fuss, he has every confidence in his talented partner.
"I went down and sat on him this morning which was the first time since Kempton and he schooled very well," he said.
"I've got no worries on any score tomorrow. I suppose it's the easiest task he's had this season, but he's still got to go out and do it."
Nicholls is also looking forward to seeing his exciting charge light up the scene at the Berkshire track.
But the champion trainer hopes Kauto Star can book his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup ticket without giving his supporters a scare similar to that provided by his final-fence blunder on St Stephens Day.
He said: "There have been no problems with Kauto Star in the build-up to the Aon Chase and Ruby has been to sit on him.
"He jumped nicely and he's very well, so I'm just hoping tomorrow will go to plan, he'll jump well and come back safe and sound.
"He was brilliant last time so we'll hope for more of the same and as it will be three miles on softish going, it'll give us a fair indication about his stamina.
"I'm not worried about Kauto's stamina, but he does have plenty of speed and he hasn't won yet over three miles on soft ground," he told Teletext.
"He won on goodish going at Haydock and this will be a lot more testing than that, but the opposition isn't quite as strong as he has been up against.
"Tomorrow is really just about getting a run into him en route to Cheltenham and I wouldn't really want him to have a desperately hard race at this point."
Among the opposition to Kauto Star is stablemate Sleeping Night.
Nicholls admits his charge — winner of the 2005 Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival — is probably only playing for minor money, however.
"He is fairly hard to place because of his rating, but hopefully he'll pick up come place money, while Royal Auclair will only run if Warwick is called off," he added.
Along with Royal Auclair, also owned by Smith, the Mark Bradstock-trained King Harald holds a first preference engagement in the totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap Chase at Warwick.
Providing that particular venue beats the weather, it would leave just L'Ami and Tango Royal to tackle the confirmed Nicholls duo at Newbury.