Kauto Star survives blunder to win at Newbury
Saturday, 10 February 2007 16:03Kauto Star survived a major blunder at the last fence to win the
Grade Two Aon Chase by a neck from L'Ami at Newbury.
Paul Nicholls' chaser put the finishing touches to his preparations for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a fifth victory on the spin.
But in almost exact circumstances to the King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day, his supporters were put through the mill after Ruby Walsh's mount clattered the final obstacle.
Kauto Star had previously gone about his business with the minimum of fuss and ghosted past Royal Auclair to take the lead two out.
However, the seven-year-old's bad error let L'Ami into the contest and a rare battle ensued towards the line, with the 2-9 favourite digging deepest to prevail in a thriller.
Walsh told Channel 4 Racing: 'We were just starting to race at it (the last fence) and he didn't do one thing or the other.
'He was just too keen all the way today, he never switched off. But the way he battled back, he'll get the trip in the Gold Cup.'
