PNicholls

Some of you would have seen my interview with Nick Luck on RUK at Newbury last Wednesday, when I like to think that I got my point across to those who think Kauto Star should be retired after his run in the King George.

Because I honestly think that I have read and heard some of the biggest rubbish this past week from people who don't know the horse.

I know by writing this article I may come across to some as defensive, when I have nothing at all to defend, but I think it has to be said.

No-one knows Kauto better than me and my team here at Ditcheat, and we all thought he had never been better going into the race.

So, yes, it was very disappointing that he didn't travel with any of his normal verve, and jump with his usual zest, at Kempton. But he didn't run badly and there have been a couple of possible reasons come to light for his below par performance, namely his small bleed and his mild infection.

He has been on antibiotics this week, and has had physiotherapy and massages, too.

So, we now have a challenge with the horse.

We love the horse and know what is right for him, and all this talk of retirement just puts unwanted pressure on us. We don't need it.

But this is a racehorse who loves his routine; you should see him at home. In fact, with our regular video updates on the site of his fast work and schooling, you now do.

And as long as he continues to love and thrive in his training and run well, then he will continue to race. If he doesn't, then we will talk retirement.

And as for people saying that he should sidestep Cheltenham and wait for next season, now I really have heard it all; after all, he has only won just the two Gold Cups there.

Yes, he may not be the horse he was two or three years ago, but is Denman?

I understand that Kauto, like Denman, is now a public horse - it was superb to hear him cheered in, then cheered out of the Kempton paddock - and the public have formed a special bond with him. They feel like they own a part of the horse, along with Clive, and that is great.

But they also want to see him race, and people can't have it both ways.

They can't bemoan the fact that the top horses are not seen out often enough, then ask for the likes of Kauto to be retired in the next breath after one disappointing run, where he would have been second in a King George but for his bad mistake.

Denman has been written off twice before finishing second in the last two Gold Cups, but it was he who got the biggest cheer when he came in after finishing third in the Hennessy in November.

And remember Kauto has bounced back from poor runs in the past before to win big races, too.

The Aon, where he only beat L'Ami a neck, The Old Roan and The Betfair Chase, where he would have been all out to beat Snoopy Loopy had he not unseated at the last. Three runs when he was some way below his best.

But what did he do on his next start after those runs? He won the Gold Cup, Betfair Chase and King George.

Yes, he has more miles on the clock at 11 now, and may not be as good as he was at his brilliant best. But Monet's Garden was 12 when he won the Betfair Ascot Chase last year, having been tailed off at the course on his previous start, and See More Business ran in the Gold Cup for me as a 13yo.

I always try and do what is best for my horses, for racing and the racing public, and always will do. But it is almost as if some people want Kauto to fail at Cheltenham, so they can say "I told you so".

It really isn't appreciated, however well intentioned some of the comments may have been.

Trust me, we will do what is best for the horse, as we have always done.

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