Smith ‘90% sure’ he’ll retire Star

Owner Clive Smith is “90% sure” the great Kauto Star will be retired after he was pulled up in yesterday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup with over a circuit to run.

The 12-year-old will go down in history as one of the true legends of the National Hunt game after becoming the first horse to regain the Gold Cup crown in 2009 — in addition to his five victories in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was written off at the start of the season after pulling up at Punchestown at the end of the last campaign, but he roared back, to the delight of his army of fans, with victories over Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and in his history-making win at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.