One of racing's greatest one-sided rivalries will be renewed at Haydock when the brilliant Kauto Star attempts to confirm his superiority over Exotic Dancer.

Paul Nicholls' 2007 Gold Cup winner has in recent years become the nemesis of Exotic Dancer, who has finished behind him in the seven times they have raced against each other.

The duo again line up for the Betfair Chase, a race Kauto Star has won for the last two years, with the pair dominating the market for the six-runner contest.

Kauto Star is trading at around 2-5 with sponsors Betfair, while Exotic Dancer is a 4-1 shot.

Small factions of racing observers felt Nicholls' eight-year-old was in demise after his comprehensive Gold Cup defeat to Denman was followed up with a strange display at Aintree, where he finished second to Our Vic.

The dissenting voices were thankfully muted on his return at Down Royal, however, when Kauto Star clinically outpointed an admittedly weak field in the JNwine.com Champion Chase – his ninth Grade One triumph.

"I was happy with him the other day at Down Royal," reflected Nicholls.

"He didn't beat much but he did it really nicely.

"I'm looking forward to the race."

Despite Exotic Dancer's promising second to Knowhere in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree, Timeform still rate Kauto Star head and shoulders above his old foe.

Spokesman Kieran Packman said: "Although his main market rival Exotic Dancer shaped encouragingly on his reappearance at Aintree, he's still 10lb behind his old rival Kauto Star on ratings.

"A hat-trick of Betfair Chases looks on the cards for Paul Nicholls' outstanding chaser."

Barry Simpson, racing manager to Exotic Dancer's owner Sir Robert Ogden, remains optimistic however.

He said: "We're not poles apart from Kauto Star. We've accepted the fact that he's a better horse than us and he's achieved more than we have.

"We'll keep having a go at him and we might beat him one day, hopefully it will be tomorrow."