Kauto Star Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 odds have already gone through some ups and downs ahead of the Festival showpiece on Friday, March 16th. The duel of Kauto Star and Long Run was lining up to be another thriller this season, as Kauto Star has been enjoying something of a renaissance after failing to capture his third Gold Cup last season. The pretender Long Run popped up and beat a class-filled field in the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Kauto Star was far from done, as he enjoyed back to back victories over the fantastic youngster Long Run, beating the Gold Cup winner at the BetFair Chase and the King George IV Chase. So everything was gearing up for Kauto Star to target a hat trick of wins over Long Run when they come together again this year at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, there was some disappointing news after a injury during schooling of the 12 year old, which left trainer Paul Nicholls saying that Kauto Star was only a 50/50 shot to make it to the Gold Cup. That naturally saw Kauto Star’s odds drift out a little, after he had been trading as joint 5/2 favourite with Long Run across the board.
Kauto Star Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 odds had actually been cut to be trading at an even price with Long Run, after the latter had put in an unimpressive run at Kempton in mid February, which saw him just beat Burton Port by half a length. That got all the doubters about Long Run’s Gold Defence in a fluster and Long Run’s odds for the 2012 Gold Cup drifted, while Kauto Star’s was cut down to meet his. That was before Kauto Star Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 odds were affected by the news of his injury. But on a more positive note, Paul Nicholls has said that Kauto Star has now made a huge leap forward in getting ready for the big race at Prestbury Park. So much so that Nicholls has been massively relieved about the rapid progress that Kauto Star is making. After physio and strong canter there could be a happy ending to all of this. However, Nicholls himself has warned not to get carried away yet, because Kauto Star is not back at the level of fitness where he needs to be in order to land his third Cheltenham Gold Cup title. If he is even ready enough to make the start, it will be a big something for this year’s race, which does lack a bit of last year’s appeal.
After landing the Gold Cup in 2007 and 2009, fans were wondering if Kauto Star would be able to land that elusive third title. The anticipation about the 2012 Gold Cup was all about the ensuing battle between the legend and the young champion Long Run. That looks to be a little bit at risk at the moment, and Nicholls has been quite honest in his assessment of Kauto Star’s chances. Even if he makes the start, getting into prime shape to challenge is a different matter. But still Kauto Star Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 odds are holding at around 4/1 with most bookies across the board including Totesport. So there is some so home for Kauto Star, still some romantic anticipation about him appearing in this year’s race, and what a story it would be, one that you just couldn’t write if he could come back from injury and cross the line first.
The nature and class of the horse is all written in his current odds, as he is still shorter than other contenders, like Burton Port, Synchronised and the good outside shot Grands Crus. Will this be Kauto Star’s last shot at the Gold Cup hattrick? Will he even make the start? After having drifted out from 5/2 joint favourite to 4/1 at the moment, now would be the time to jump on his back if you are fancying an optimistic punt on him.
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