Kauto Star mistake leads to defeat at Grand National Festival
Kauto Star threw away golden chance to win the race
Thursday, 03, Apr 2008 09:15
Kauto Star failed to make up for his failure to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup as he finished second at Aintree's Grand National Festival.
The 4-7 favourite for the Totesport Bowl Chase was well-placed for victory with three hurdles left, but a mistake at the penultimate fence allowed Our Vic, who was ridden by Timmy Murphy, to come back into contention and win the race by a nose.
Our Vic trainer David Pipe said: "Both horses deserved to win. Our Vic and Timmy have given their all. He's battled back, he's got a good jump at the last.
"I was always happy until we made a mistake at the first in the home straight. Blinkers have definitely helped him and sharpened him jump.
"He's a very good horse and has been a good horse all his life. Whenever this fellow retires we'll miss him."
Kauto Star's trainer Paul Nicholls said he was to blame for the mistake which caused his horse to lose the race. Nicholls urged jockey Ruby Walsh to be extra positive and he felt those tactics led to the mistake on the penultimate fence.
Cheltenham champion Inglis Drever could only manage third place in the Liverpool Hurdle as Blazing Bailey on the race by six lengths ahead of Faasel.
Drever's trainer Howard Johnson revealed afterwards that the three time World Hurdle Champion would only race three more times.
In the other main race of the day, Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle champion Celestial Halo was beaten by Tony McCoy and Binocular in the Novices' Hurdle.