Star ruled out of Chandler
Kauto Star, 7-2 favourite with the sponsors for the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham, has been ruled out of the race by trainer Paul Nicholls.
The six-year-old, current favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, would have had to carry top weight of 11st 10lb after notching an impressive win in the William Hill – Tingle Creek Trophy last month.
However, Nicholls has decided to bypass the January 28 event in favour of waiting for the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury the following month.
The Ditcheat handler said: “Kauto Star had a little holiday after Sandown and has only just started working again.
“He definitely won’t run in the Victor Chandler and the plan is for him to go straight for the Game Spirit ahead of the festival.”
Nicholls is still set to be well represented in the extended two-mile feature though with Armaturk, Albuhera and Cerium among his five entries.
“I was very pleased with the way Armaturk won at Lingfield on Saturday, while both Albuhera and Cerium are also on course,” he added.
“Le Volfoni would come into the reckoning if the ground came up heavy.”
