Sam Thomas deputised aboard Paul Nicholls’ stable star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock but Smith is confident of Walsh's being up to the job.

“Kauto Star’s very well. I went to watch him school this morning, which went very well, and he’s looking really good,” said Smith.

“Paul hasn’t said anything to me about Ruby but he did say that he would like to see him ride for a day in Ireland before the race to prove his fitness – but Sam will be there on Boxing Day as well.

“Ruby has done such a marvellous job on him but you have to say that Sam did a wonderful job on him last time – the horse went very well for him. Ruby is the man and we’ll see how he goes, I’m sure he’ll go very well.”

Only eight have stood their ground for the Christmas showpiece, with Jonjo O’Neill’s perennial bridesmaid Exotic Dancer once again taking on the champion.

“You have to remember at Haydock that the going suited Exotic very well indeed and he was well ridden by Barry Geraghty,” continued Smith.

“The ground didn’t suit us quite so well but I think Kauto showed grit by staying on at the end and he wouldn’t let him pass.

“I think it suited Exotic last time but I think we are better than ever really. We’ll be looking at a race in February if we get through this one OK and then on to Cheltenham.

“Denman seems to have taken the pressure off us somewhat but as Paul has said, Denman won the Hennessy off 161 and Kauto would have done exactly the same, but he is obviously a very good horse,” he told At The Races.

My Way De Solzen will have a crack at the big two again after coming up well short when finishing fifth in the Betfair Chase.

However, trainer Alan King is expecting a much better show this time.

“He’s in great form. He worked yesterday and he’ll work again Saturday,” said King. “We couldn’t school him this morning because of the frost so we’ll probably pop him over a few (fences) on Monday morning if the forecast is right.

“We’re very happy with him. He’s done a lot of work and he’ll be a bit straighter. He’s always worked very well at home and he hasn’t missed any work.

“He ran at Haydock on the Saturday but was back in work on the Wednesday and has worked twice a week since. I couldn’t do anymore.

“You don’t get any bigger than the King George. It is a proper race and I’m delighted to be part of it. The pressure is off a little bit after getting beat the other day but I’m looking forward to it.”

Our Vic is set to make his seasonal reappearance for David Pipe after a small setback earlier in the campaign.

“We’ve left Our Vic in the King George and the plan, hopefully, is to go to Kempton on Boxing Day with him,” said Pipe.

“He can be a bit in and out sometimes but like we always say, we wouldn’t mind a few more like him.

“Obviously the King George is an impossible race – it is probably the toughest race he has ever run in in his life.

“But as everybody knows, these good horses have very few options. With him having a slight setback earlier in the year our hand was forced somewhat.”

Stan James King George VI Chase; sponsors bet: 5-6 Kauto Star, 5-1 Exotic Dancer, 6-1 Taranis, 13-2 My Way De Solzen, 8-1 Racing Demon, 25-1 Our Vic, 66-1 Lord Jay Jay, Hi Cloy.