Kauto Star (Pic: Courtesy of Jockey Club Racecourses).

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:

Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.

PAUL NICHOLLS has highlighted the unique challenges of collecting the £1million bonus for winning the Betfair Chase, 32Red King George VI Chase and Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Nicholls-trained Kauto Star is the only horse to have secured the bonus for winning the three races in one season; which commences this year on November 25 with the Group 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.

Kauto Star won the Betfair Chase four times, along with five King George VI Chases and two Cheltenham Gold Cups. He retired in 2012 after he was pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, finishing with a career record of 23 victories from 41 starts and close to £2.4 million in prize money.

The multiple champion trainer has won the Betfair Chase six times after adding two victories with Silviniaco Conti, but will not have a runner this year.

“Sadly, I have not got an entry in the Betfair Chase this year,” Nicholls said. “I was incredibly lucky to have Kauto Star who won the Betfair Chase four times and then Silviniaco Conti.

“It is a fantastic race and to win the £1-million bonus was just awesome. Kauto Star is the only horse to have won the bonus (in the 2006/07 season) – to win the Betfair Chase, the King George and the Gold Cup takes some doing.

“It just shows the bonus can be won with the right horse and I suppose Sizing John will be going for it this season.

“He has not had a prep run and therefore needs to win first time out – you have got to be on the top of your game in all three of those races which are all different. It will be no easy feat for Sizing John to win the bonus and if it is testing ground in two weeks’ time, I can see Bristol De Mai making a go of it in the Betfair Chase.”

Betfair Chase – Sponsors bet: 5/4 Sizing John, 2/1 Bristol De Mai, 6/1 Cue Card, 10/1 Outlander, 10/1 Might Bite, 12/1 Tea For Two, 20/1 More of That, 25/1 Traffic Fluide, 25/1 Yala Enki, 33/1 Double Treasure and 50/1 Shantou Flyer.