THE stars will be out in force on Saturday for Haydock's richest-ever National Hunt fixture.

And with £455,000 up for grabs, every one of the seven races should be a cracker.

It was at this meeting 12 months ago that Kauto Star put up one of the most spectacular performances of his career, romping to a 17-length win in the Betfair Chase on the way to collecting a £1m jackpot put up by the sponsors.

So it's hardly surprising that the star chaser of last season is back again, hoping to tread the same golden path that took in victory in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton Park and the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham in a perfect season.

Kauto Star didn't look quite his normal self when beaten by Monet's Garden at Aintree last month but as Exotic Dancer, the horse who chased him home at Cheltenham, was 20 lengths way in third, the form doesn't look so rusty.

His possible rivals also include Turpin Green, third in the Gold Cup and two of the horses behind him in this race last year. Irish veteran Beef Or Salmon and Ollie Magern, who looked revitalised at Wetherby.

Best

But the horse who would really set up this race as the best this side of Christmas is My Way De Solzen, the champion two-mile novice chaser of the season and the star staying hurdler of 2005-6.

Saturday's race, over three miles, would be the furthest he's ever attempted over fences and would go a long way to solving trainer Alan King's dilemma over which route to send his star this season.

A comprehensive defeat could see him reverting to two miles and the Queen Mother Champion Chase while a bold showing would encourage his trainer to aim for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The most intriguing race on the supporting card is the £100,000 Betfair Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle, over just short of three miles.

The 46 entries here include Flintoff, successful twice over fences last season and named after his part-owner, the Lancashire and England all-rounder.

Owner JP McManus could also see his colours carried by Cheltenham Festival winner Wichita Linesman, who has never raced over these sort of obstacles, a cross between hurdles and fences, while Irish raider Sonnyanjoe, a Cheltenham scorer last Saturday, is being readied for a quick reappearance.

The Betfair Poker Newton Novices' Hurdle, which kicks off the card at 12.30pm, could feature the hurdling debut of triple Flat winner Luxurix.

He could be up against Lightning Strike, down the field in the Cesarewitch but with some useful hurdles form last season, including his ninth to Katchit in the JCB Triumph at Cheltenham.

Francois Doumen, a regular cross-Channel commuter, has entered Grand Bleu, a winner here in February, for the Timeform 4-Y-O Hurdle. He will appreciate the recent rain but the main focus in this event is the unbeaten Gwanako, who notched up six wins in France before moving to Paul Nicholls. Tweet