Kauto Star suffering from slight infection

KAUTO Star, who was thwarted in his bid for a record fifth successive King George VI Chase last weekend, is suffering from a "low-grade infection" and has been pushed out to as high as 10-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed the slight ailment, and said his stable star was being treated with antibiotics. He said on Twitter that blood tests after Saturday's surprise defeat, in which he could finish only third behind Long Run, had shown "signs of inflammation".

"Antibiotics and easy few days," said Nicholls of Kauto Star's treatment.

Reigning champion Imperial Commander heads a refreshingly open book for the Gold Cup at around the 4-1 mark. Saturday's Kempton hero Long Run, who may again be ridden by former Edinburgh University student Sam Waley-Cohen at Cheltenham, is at 5-1, with past winner Denman at 6-1, Diamond Harry at 8-1 and Kauto Star trading between 8 and 10-1.

Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson plans to find one more race in which to further Finian's Rainbow's education before Cheltenham after he came home alone in the three-runner Zenergi Novices' Chase at Newbury yesterday.

Henderson has his eyes firmly on the Arkle Challenge Trophy in March, believing Finian's Rainbow is a specialist two-mile chaser, despite having taken a staying route over hurdles which culminated in a fifth-placed finish behind Peddlers Cross at the last Festival. His introduction over fences at Newbury in November featured extravagant leaps interspersed with shaky mistakes and he was again too bold at a couple before finding his feet.

Tail Of The Bank was the only one capable of making a contest of it but he was beginning to lose touch when falling at the third-last. Finian's Rainbow was eased-down to still finish 51 lengths clear of Babysitter and maintain his position at the head of the Arkle betting.