Horse insurance: Kauto Star facing retirement?
Horse insurance policyholders have been told that champion mount Kauto Star could be facing retirement, after a poor display at the Punchestown Gold Cup.
The race, which saw Follow the Plan take the victory, resulted in Kauto Star being pulled-up four fences from the end after struggling on the course.
However, trainer Paul Nicholls said that the animal's owners and jockey, Ruby Walsh, would make no rash decisions over his future.
Mr Nicholls explaied: "It's hard to judge on one run, but if he came back in the autumn and ran once more like that, then we would retire him."
The horse, which is currently stabled at Mr Nicholls' training grounds in Somerset, was the first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup and is the only horse to have romped to win the King George VI Chase four times in a row.
Last month, it was confirmed that former Grand National winner Comply or Die has been retired.
May 06th 2011
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