Difficult to oppose Kauto

IT’S difficult enough to look beyond Kauto Star in what is a weakly contested Grade 1 Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown today.

All the evidence this season is he is nowhere near as a good as he was, but if the Kauto Star that ran in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March turns up then the likelihood is that will still be good enough.

Paul Nicholls’ 11-year-old began the campaign with a less than impressive success at Down Royal and then disappointed when a poor third behind Long Run in the King George at Kempton.