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Cheltenham Gold Cup

March 16, 2012 by · Comments Off on Cheltenham Gold Cup 

Cheltenham Gold Cup, Kauto Star had been declared fit for what is likely to be his final festival appearance despite a training fall but jockey Ruby Walsh pulled the 12-year-old steeplechaser up after the ninth jump after a very flat start.

Kauto Star was aiming to be the oldest winner since What a Myth in 1969 and his odds shortened to 3-1 by the time the race began, but the veteran never looked like adding to his 2007 and ’09 triumphs.

McCoy and Synchronised only took the lead after jumping the last and galloped up the hill to outlast 7-4 favourite Long Run, which finished third. The Giant Bolster, a 50-1 outsider, was two and a quarter lengths back in second place.

Kauto Star’s owner, Clive Smith, said it was “90 per cent certain” the legendary 12-year-old would be retired.

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