I knew he wouldn't finish the problem with Kauto Star is that he is 12 and despite a good season Cheltenham is a unforgiving track for a horse. He as a good record at Cheltenham but like a boxer who absorbs punishment you can only go on at the top for so long. A Horse that suffers a fall in training and is hurt in the process needs months of rehab and rest but after 2 weeks they said the horse was 100% when clearly he wasn't. Not blaming Nicholls or Clive Smith but if it wasn't the Gold Cup they would have never raced him. I just hope they see sense and retire him now he as nothing to prove the best Horse on the NH I and many others will see for many years. Not quite as good as Arkle but defo up with Istabraq, One Man, Red Rum and Desert Orchard
Owner Clive Smith said Kauto Star was almost certain to be retired after he was pulled up in Friday's Gold Cup. "The horse seems well in himself, but I've had a word with Ruby," said Smith. "He said he jumped the first really well and the second really well, but when he went to the water jump he just stretched a bit and possibly felt a pain inside. "Ruby didn't want to go on because of that - it was probably from the tumble he had two weeks ago. "I think we probably will retire him. We said we wouldn't say anything today, but I think it's a very good bet we'll do that. "What a great career he's had and he's been a wonderful horse. I've been so proud to own him and also the support of everybody has been absolutely tremendous. "I would say it's 90% certain that he'll be retired. Someone will have to come up with a very good reason for me not to retire him."
