Kauto pulled up as Plan springs surprise

IT was the kind of result which makes bookmakers glad they took out a licence in the first place.

At Punchestown last evening hot-pot Kauto Star was sunk without trace in the Grade 1 Guinness Gold Cup, with victory going to 20-1 shot, Follow The Plan.

Ruby Walsh rode Kauto Star and admitted afterwards that at no stage of the race was he happy.

Kauto Star came under pressure a long way from home and was out of contention, and struggling badly, when pulled up going to the fourth last.

At the end of a long season strange results are often the norm and this was certainly one of them.

Follow The Plan had been well beaten behind Nacarat at Aintree previously, but emphatically reversed those placings.

Trainer, Oliver McKiernan, said: “When he came back from Cheltenham in 2009, he had leg trouble.

“After that we gave him every chance to recover, because he was the best horse we had around the yard.

“Tom (Doyle) gave him a superb ride. We were hoping we weren’t out of our depth and it has all worked out.”

Robert Power kicked hard off the home turn on Roberto Goldback and they looked sure to score for much of the straight.

But Roberto Goldback began to weaken a little before the last and Follow The Plan was only about a length down rising to the obstacle.

In any case Roberto Goldback stepped right into the fence and never had a chance of getting to the other side.

Follow The Plan was left in front and galloped clear to beat Vic Venturi by 11 lengths, in a race which saw only four manage to complete the course.

It was a fourth Grade 1 success for in-form Doyle, who had a treble at Limerick on Monday. “The treble was great, but this was better”, smiled Doyle.

“He loves his jumping, that’s the key to him. The plan was to slot in and give him a chance. He is a lovely horse and travelled really well.

“He was staying on going to the last, but I’d be telling lies if I said we would definitely have won.”

Paul Nicholls said of Kauto Star: “I’ve never ran him in May before. He seemed in good form at home, but obviously hasn’t fired.

“I won’t be making any rash decisions (regarding retirement). Even six-year-olds can run over the top in May.”