Kauto Star: classy chaser bidding for third Cheltenham Gold Cup victory
PICTURE: Martin LynchKauto Star among 12 left in Cheltenham Gold Cup
THE Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star will face no more than 11 rivals when he bids for a third Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup victory on Friday.
Clive Smith's superstar will meet 2008 winner Denman and two other stablemates in the form of Tricky Trickster and My Will, although Nicholls withdrew Lexus Chase winner What A Friend at Saturday's forfeit stage.
Imperial Commander, last year's Ryanair Chase winner,and 2009 RSA Chase hero Cooldine are the main threats to Nicholls' team, while Carruthers and Casey Jones, fourth and fifth in the RSA last year, also feature among the declarations, although Casey Jones looks likely to miss the race and head for the William Hill Handicap Chase.
Trainer Noel Meade said: "The plan is for Casey Jones to run in the William Hill Handicap Chase on Tuesday. We left him in the Gold Cup just in case one of the big names happened to come out ofthe race over the weekend and we felt he might have a chance of getting into the money."
Henrietta Knight, who saddled Best Mate to win the Gold Cup three times, could be represented by Calgary Bay, although he has an alternative entry in Tuesday's William Hill Handicap Chase.
The Gold Cup is the only possible Cheltenham option for John Smith's Grand National winner Mon Mome.
Cerium and Mr Pointment, both from the yard of Paul Murphy, complete the acceptors.
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