RACING:PAUL NICHOLLS is relishing the challenge of preparing Kauto Star for a fifth successive appearance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup despite his disappointing run in the King George VI Chase on Saturday.
The trainer has revealed that Clive Smith’s brilliant chaser bled after his bid for a fifth consecutive victory in the Kempton feature was scuppered.
The 11-year-old could finish only third behind Long Run after a mistake at the second-last fence finally put paid to his challenge.
Kauto Star’s problem is not serious, though, and he will still be aimed at the Gold Cup with Nicholls believing his charge is still up to the task.
“When he got back last night and stuck his head in the water bucket, Kauto bled from both nostrils,” Nicholls said yesterday. “It wasn’t a big bleed but it indicates that he probably bled during the race (possibly after his mistake at the second last, which meant he had to dig deep to get home), which would not have aided his cause.
“But I can tell you now that reports of his demise are somewhat exaggerated and there is no talk of retirement here. I have just spoken to Clive. We agreed that yesterday now gives us a bit of challenge with the horse and hopefully we and, most importantly, he will rise to it.
“He will be prepared for a tilt at a third Gold Cup victory in March – different ground, different track, different day – and we would like to aim him for a third victory at Down Royal in the autumn, too.
“As long as he is enjoying his racing and running well, then he will continue – he is 11, not 13.
“(Saturday), was undoubtedly a big disappointment. He was never travelling or jumping with any real fluency, but it wasn’t as if he ran a poor race. Without his blunder at the second-last, he probably would have been a fair second to a very good horse.”
Nicholls also revealed a problem with his other King George runner The Nightingale, who was pulled up. “We fancied The Nightingale to run well but he may have found three miles too far,” he went on. “He finished distressed and we have discovered that he has a fibrillating heart, similar to the problem that Denman suffered from.”
