Old guard go down in a 'blaze of glory'

PAUL Nicholls was full of pride after seeing Denman and Kauto Star go down fighting in an epic renewal of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Dual winner Kauto Star may have disappointed when seeking a fifth King George at Kempton, but on this occasion he travelled with the panache that has been his trademark for so many years, taking up the running with a full circuit to go in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

Denman, the Gold Cup hero of 2008, made rather more laboured progress through the field, but the stable companions and old rivals set sail for home running down the hill and for a moment it looked as though they would roll back the years, before Long Run stormed ahead.

Denman filled the runner-up spot for the third time in this race, with Kauto Star just holding off another Nicholls inmate, What A Friend, to finish third.

Nicholls said: "I'm not disappointed at all, believe me. Nobody likes getting beaten, but I'm just so proud of the horses.

"That race was great for racing. This marks the changing of the guard and I've never doubted that. Our two old boys put it up to Long Run, but he came through and he's the best young horse in training.

"We've got to try and find something to tackle him now, but that may not be so easy. Long Run is the champion now, but our horses have gone down in a blaze of glory."

Nicholls refused to be drawn on whether retirement beckons for his 11-year-olds, but saw more than enough in their individual performances to at least consider there are more big days for them yet. "I don't know what the future holds. I've got to sit down and talk to the owners and I'm not going to make any quick decisions," the champion trainer continued.

"Kauto has given his all and I don't know whether he'll want to run again this season. There is nothing much left for Denman as he has to go left-handed and he won't go to Aintree. But on that sort of form, there is no reason both horses can't run again."

Nicholls did taste success in the first race of the Festival's final day when Zarkandar maintained his unbeaten record over timber in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, enjoying a two-and-a-quarter-length win from the Irish filly Unaccompanied.

Nicky Henderson opened his account for the week in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle when Bobs Worth led home stablemate Mossley.

Willie Mullins was back in the winner's enclosure when his Final Approach (10-1) got the better of Get Me Out Of Here in the best finish of the week in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle. Tony McCoy looked to have the race in the bag on last year's totesport Trophy winner but Ruby Walsh's mount denied him in the final stride.

Mullins then doubled up in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle with 9-2 favourite Sir Des Champs to cap a memorable week.