Kauto Star was pulled up on possibly his final run as outsider Follow The Plan won the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown.
Making his first ever appearance in the Republic of Ireland, two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup and four-time King George winner Kauto Star was the star attraction, sent off the 10/11 favourite.
However, he was the first of the eight contenders in trouble before being pulled up long before the finish having been eased down by jockey Ruby Walsh coming out of the back straight.
Kauto’s His rivals in the market, Aintree Bowl winner Nacarat and the Willie Mullins-trained Kempes, similarly underperformed leaving unconsidered 20/1 pair Follow The Plan and Roberto Goldback to fight it out coming to the last.
However, the latter cracked jockey Robbie Power to the deck leaving Follow The Plan to scoot home 11 lengths clear of two Dessie Hughes-trained rags, Vic Venturi and Rare Bob in second and third.
The win marked by far the biggest day in the training career of Cavan trainer Oliver McKiernan, but without meaning to be disrespectful to the winner’s connections, the day will long be remembered for the manner of defeat of Kauto Star.
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