Staged on Kempton Park’s massive seasonal highlight on Boxing Day every year, alongside the Christmas Hurdle and the King George VI Chase, the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase is one of the key races of the National Hunt season for first and second season chasers.
Formerly known as the Feltham Novices’ Chase, the event was renamed in 2012 to honour the five-time King George VI and dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star.
Run over three miles and carrying a total prize fund of around £100,000, the Kauto Star features 18 fences around Kempton and has top-level, Grade One status.
Previous winners such as Bacchanal, Long Run, and Coneygree all became top-class chasers in their careers, though for some contenders staying three miles this early in their careers means they go on to become four-milers rather than Gold Cup types.