‘Awesome’ Kauto Star cleared for tilt at third Gold Cup

It follows a welcome transformation in the well-being of the 2007 and 2009 steeplechasing king whose participation had been in doubt following a heavy fall two-and-a-half weeks ago.

Ruby Walsh, the National Hunt Festival’s most successful rider and who partners the hot favourite Hurricane Fly in today’s Stan James Champion Hurdle, was in the saddle as Kauto Star was put through his paces at his trainer’s Somerset stables.

“Kauto was awesome, just as I’d thought he would be,” said a clearly relieved Nicholls who says the 12-year-old veteran has shown no ill-effects following last Friday’s racecourse gallop at Wincanton.

“He jumped six fences – the plain fence and the open ditch three times each – and he was foot perfect and looked magnificent.

“Barring any mishaps in the next few days, Kauto lines up for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Friday. We are looking forward to it.”

The other significant pre-Festival news was that David Pipe’s highly promising Grands Crus will swerve the Gold Cup and line up in tomorrow’s RSA Chase, the premier race for long-distance novices.

Though unbeaten in three runs over obstacles, the eye-catching grey suffered a gallops fall of his own last Friday, prompting connections to err on the side of caution because of the horse’s relative inexperience jumping fences at speed – the Gold Cup’s optimum requirement.

“At this stage of his career the RSA is the right race for him,” said Pipe. “It’s what we thought for him as an individual. I’m sure he could cope with the Gold Cup, but hopefully we might be going there next year.

“You’re always going into unknown territory, but Tom Scudamore was confident of him getting the Gold Cup trip.

“It’s a decision we’ve made for the horse and the best for him. He’s in good form, he’s had a good preparation and we wish the race was today.

“Unfortunately Grands Crus and Tom parted company schooling the other day, but all was okay afterwards. Tom schooled him on Sunday and he jumped well.

“You never want these things to happen but they do and he was fine afterwards.”