Take Pipe's hope Our Vic to outshine Kauto Star in showpiece

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Paul Nicholls' gelding was forced to dig deep to withstand the challenge of Exotic Dancer at Haydock last time and his old adversary, second to him in the King George last year, seems the one to beat again.

Brush with failure: Kauto Star ploughs through the last in 2006 King George

Value seekers will point to the form book and suggest Jonjo O'Neill's charge is the obvious call to upset the odds on his short-priced opponent, but the stable has been woefully out of form recently and connections have expressed misgivings about today's venue so his chances of reversing placings don't look bright.

My Way de Solzen is sure to strip fitter for his comeback, but he has 42 lengths to make up on Kauto Star from the Betfair Chase, while three miles appears to test Racing Demon's stamina and he is well held by the favourite after finishing third last year.

Taranis is unexposed over fences and could trouble the main protagonists, but at his odds OUR VIC (Kempton, 2.30) is worth chancing with David Pipe's team in sparkling form.

The nine-year-old's record after an absence of two months or more reads 121112, while he has only been beaten once in six starts on a right-hand track.

Furthermore, he looks the most likely front-runner in the seven-strong field and could be hard to catch if finding a rhythm over his fences early on.

The big prices about Our Vic have disappeared quicker than the mince pies but he's still attractively priced.

HARCHIBALD (Kempton, nb, 1.55) looked back to his best when winning the Fighting Fifth last time and should land his second Christmas Hurdle, having lifted the prize in 2004.

CASH MAN (Sedgefield, nap, 12.35) should be a more attractive betting proposition and it will be disappointing if he can't maintain his stable's excellent recent run of form.

Today's lay is Thievery at Huntingdon (2.40).