TOM Gretton is hopeful his underdog Kauto Riko can defy the odds again at Kempton on Saturday.
With Altior ruled out, the nine-year-old has been given the green light to tackle the Grade 2 Unibet Silviniaco Conti Chase.
He took his form to a new level on his reappearance, finishing a close second behind Nicky Henderson’s Top Notch in the Peterborough Chase as the 100-1 outsider.
That horse heads the betting at 8-11 with the sponsors, with Kauto Riko, who is from the same family as Kauto Star, a 5-1 shot.
But Gretton’s stable star is 2lb better off at the weights with his rival and is reported to have improved plenty for his first outing since finishing eight in the Festival Plate at Cheltenham.
Gretton told Sun Racing: “From our point of view it was good news that will Altior miss the race, so he will definitely take his chance.
“Hopefully he can run to the same level as the Peterborough Chase, if not better. He has come on for the run and seems really well.
“We are 2lb better of with Top Notch for three-quarters of a length, for all he probably wasn’t doing very much in front.
“He hit the line really well at Huntingdon and I think the track will suit him better at Kempton.
“The fitting of a tongue-tie has helped him. He is probably at his best when we keep him fresh so we gave him a little break after the Peterborough we are really pleased with him.”
Worcestershire-based Gretton added that a patient approach with the horse is now paying off.
He said: “My gut instinct is that, if he can run to a similar level consistently, we will continue to run him in Graded company because some of the big, valuable handicaps are so tough.
“We’ve got 19 horses in training, so it is a big day when you run in these kind of races. The owners have been very patient with me and with him.
“He has been all over the place, we’ve been up to Catterick, Newcastle and Cartmel, and luckily the horse has come good and we are having a lot of fun out of it now.”
