Kauto Star uncertain for Gold Cup after fall – Horseracing Update
The champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ star gelding, Kauto Star, have made his participation in upcoming high-profile contest of ‘Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase’ uncertain after suffering an ‘awful fall’ while schooling a few days back.
While being driven by Ruby Walsh on last Friday, the veteran runner misjudged the last jump of the track and collapsed. Walsh has termed it a ‘heavy fall’ which, he thinks, may prevent him from turning out to Cheltenham on March 16.
The trainer is also worried about his pupil who had high betting odds. He reports to have consulted with veterinary doctors who claim that the horse’ chances to run two weeks later are 50-50.
In his column for Betfair yesterday, Nicholls wrote, “Kauto took a tumble when Ruby schooled him at the end of last week. I say tumble, but in truth it was a pretty awful fall.”
“He has had the best veterinary and physiotherapy care possible but we hoped that he would be showing more improvement by now.”
Walsh is of the view that Cheltenham Festival is a mega competition and Kauto Star should not go there half-cooked.
However, he anticipates that the brilliant gelding will be able to get well by the race day, claiming that even 24 hours can bring a lot of changes in a horse’s health.
Kauto Star possesses fabulous track record. Out of his total 40 starts so far, he has empathetically won 23. From October 2006 to February 2008, the dashing runner won consistently.
Just after the start of his career, the Clive D Smith-owned gelding registered a marvellous hat-trick during April-September 2003.
The maverick racer elegantly finished first each in his last two starts during the last two months of the last year.
Now, Kauto Star is set to fight against 33 rivals to clinch the title of the Gold Cup. The Class 1 race of 3m2f110y will begin at 3:20 (GMT) on Friday.
But, the gelding’s sudden and unexpected fall has mitigated his chances of success to a great extent. This has forced the bookmakers to change their priorities.
Long Run seems to be replacing Kauto Star in the market.
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