Kauto pulled up as Plan comes together to win Gold Cup

Kauto Star was pulled up as Follow The Plan won a dramatic race for the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup at the County Kildare track.

Roberto Goldback looked the likely winner and held a narrow lead when he unseated Robbie Power at the final fence.

That left Follow The Plan (20-1) to come home clear of the Dessie Hughes-trained pair of Vic Venturi and Rare Bob.

Kauto Star was well behind when Ruby Walsh called it a day before the fourth-last.

Rare Bob cut out most of the running with Nacarat in close attendance and Kauto Star sat just behind the pace in fifth place.

From travelling comfortably Kauto Star was the first beaten and Walsh wasted no time in taking the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner out of the race, although he did canter him back past the post.

Tranquil Sea unseated Andrew McNamara four out as up front the race began in earnest.

Roberto Goldback appeared to be going the best until his untimely exit, leaving Follow The Plan, trained by Oliver McKiernan and ridden by Tom Doyle to register a shock victory by 11 lengths from Rare Bob and Vic Venturi.

Tom George’s Nacarat was the fourth and only other finisher.

McKiernan said: "`We came here more or else for place money, we thought. There again we thought if Kauto Star didn’t run his usual race then we might have a better chance. This was our local track so were happy to come here.

“We were hopeful going to the last as our horse finishes strong. My opinion was our horse was the freshest horse in the race coming here so we thought it might give him a good chance.”