Kauto Riko is the son of a half-sister of the legendary Kauto Star and the six-year-old’s improving form suggests he could make quite a splash himself
After a weekend of Cheltenham trials on both sides of the Irish Sea, it is back to more pedestrian fare this afternoon, but there are a few runners worthy of close inspection, Kauto Riko (2.40) being the most obvious in the first of the handicap hurdles at Catterick Bridge.
Tom Gretton’s six-year-old did not show much on his handicap debut last April, but looked a different proposition altogether when he returned to the track after an eight-month break at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. Kauto Riko travelled smoothly throughout and put the race to bed when asked with something to spare, and a 7lb rise in the weights is not excessive in the circumstances. He steps up another furlong today, and as the son of a half-sister to Kauto Star, no less, that will hopefully bring more than enough improvement to justify a bet at around 11-4.
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