• Cheltenham Festival

Kauto Star rated at 95% for Gold Cup

ESPN staff
March 9, 2012
Kauto Star came through a gallop with Mon Parrain at Wincanton © PA Photos
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Kauto Star has a 95 per cent chance of lining up for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham next week after coming through a gallop at Wincanton unscathed.

The 12-year-old was rated as 50-50 last week after suffering a fall in schooling, but trainer Paul Nicholls has confirmed Kauto Star is looking good for a tilt at the Cheltenham Festival showpiece.

Jockey Ruby Walsh put Kauto Star through his paces over two miles with stablemate Mon Parrain. The horse's owner, Clive Smith, was on hand to see the gallop as Kauto Star looked fresh, although was never really tested.

Nicholls confirmed that a final decision would be made on Monday, but was delighted with Kauto Star's progress.

"I was delighted with Kauto Star's gallop over two miles at Wincanton today, and at this stage I think he has a 95 per cent chance of lining up for the Gold Cup next Friday," Nicholls wrote on his Betfair column.

"Today's gallop with Mon Parrain was clearly not searching at all - they just did a good half-speed and quickened slightly near the end, exactly as we had planned - but it was certainly a good blow out.

"Kauto looked great, was full of enthusiasm, and Ruby had a job pulling him up. He was running away with Ruby throughout the gallop. Kauto clearly has come a long, long way in a fortnight, and the signs look good at the moment."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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