Nicholls and Smith salute true champion

Kauto Star bows out as one of the greatest horses in the history of National Hunt racing.

The 12-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls and owned by Clive Smith, had been under consideration for another season of racing, but time has now been called on his career.

Nicholls said: “We have had nine superb years with the horse but, after seeing him in his work these past few weeks, we were of the opinion that the time had arrived to retire him.