Kauto Star's first Gold Cup

Written in April 2010, a look at the beaten horses in Kauto Star's first Gold Cup and what became of them.

2nd Exotic Dancer - beaten two and a half lengths in the Cheltenham showpiece Exotic Dancer franked the form less than a month later in the Martell Cup at Aintree beating four rivals. Although the horse ran with great credit, only finishing outside the first three once in ten more races beaten by Kauto three more times as well of the likes of Our Vic, Denman and Monet's Garden, there was only to be one more victory, a 20-length slamming of War of Attrition in the Lexus Chase of December 2008. Exotic Dancer died after finishing second at last year's Totesport Bowl at Aintree

3rd Turpin Green - five lengths behind Kauto at 40/1, it certainly led me to question the race at the time. Looking back though Turpin Green had beaten Exotic Dancer and finished second to Star De Mohaison in the previous 12 months. Nothing as good after the race though. Only one subsequent victory to report, a three-runner affair over 2m 5f at Haydock where it was the only one to complete the course. Has only once had a single figure starting-price since and was last seen finishing second in a Doncaster four-mile handicap in February at 33/1.

4th Monkerhostin - a further five lengths back. A decent sort but at the time had better form around two/two and a half miles so it was certainly a surprise to see it start at 8/1 co-favourite next time out in the Grand National. Has picked up two wins in the last three years, both Sandown handicaps, one of them the Bet365 Gold Cup in 2008 (also entered for this year's renewal) and one in February over three miles half a furlong . Now 13 was last seen lobbing around 14th of 16 in the Cross-Country race at the Festival.

5th Cane Brake - three-quarters of a length behind Monkerhostin, really hasn't done much else since. Was off the course for over 18 months after pulling-up in the 2007 Irish Grand National so clearly had problems.  Third to Exotic Dancer in the 2008 Lexus and the same placing in a Clonmel Handicap  hurdle last November. Pulled up in last year's Lexus and not seen since.

6th State of Play - (a further half-length behind). Started the race an 8/1 third favourite after winning the Hennessey the previous November. Best result since, a win in the 2008 Charlie Hall after finishing second in the race the year previously. Was pulled up behind Denman in last year's Hennessey. Not seen since but has entries in both the Grand National and the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

7th L'ami - 12 and a half lengths behind the winner on the day. Has won an egg and spoon race at Kilsheelan and a chase and cross-country at Punchestown since, all at odds on. Something of a dodgepot on the big occasion.

8th Neptune Collonges - Just touched off by L'Ami, was running in the race as a six-year old. Finished third in the 2008 Gold Cup and fourth in 2009. Missed this season through injury unfortunately. Has won the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown twice, the Country Gentleman's Association Chase at Wincanton and the Hennessey Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown last year. Has picked up over £500k in prize money, a pretty good third string to have in the stable!

9th Kingscliff - Probably past his best. Had finished 10th to War of Attrition a year earlier. Back in 2003 had won the Foxhunters and the Tripleprint at Cheltenham and, in 2005, beat Beef or Salmon to win the Betfair Chase. Finished second in the Guinness Gold Cup next time out but didn't pick up another win until sent point-to-pointing at Loughrea last October.

10th Forget the Past - Third in the previous year's renewal, another one that looks to have been on the decline. Only one victory since, a chase worth £9k to the winner at Thurles in November 2007. Easily beaten in an Irish Point-to-point last October.

11th The Listener - Was going into the race off the back of a win in the Lexus Chase and then second to Beef or Salmon in the Hennessey Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown. Since the 2007 Gold Cup has won a John Durkan chase at Punchestown and went one better in the Henessey Cognac in February 2008. Fifth in the Ryanair Chase at the 2008 Festival so decent without being able to worry the best of the British. Last run was another Grade 1 victory in JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal last November but picked up an injury which finished the season.

12th My Will - Had won Grade 2 and 3 events in the novice sphere and picked up a Handicap at Cheltenham the previous December but had no form to suggest a possible victory. Off the track from April 2007 to Nov 2008, finished fifth in the 2009 Gold Cup and seventh this year. Hasn't won a race since but third in last year's Grand National and a 40/1 chance for the big Aintree event this time.

13th Beef or Salmon - At eleven years old a fifth and final attempt at winning the big one after previous efforts of fell, fourth, pulled up and eleventh. Had beaten the likes of War of Attrition, Kicking King, Best Mate and Hedgehunter in Ireland but didn't win a race on these shores. Never won another race anywhere and was retired after 2008's Guinness Gold Cup.

14th Sybellius D'artaix - The last finisher, over 134 lengths behind Kauto, this vanity runner had finished seventh in the Queen Mother two days previously and went on to run in the Scottish National! Won a novice hurdle two and a half months later but that was the horse's only success in 20 other tries. Last out was in July 2009 finishing ninth in a Cartmel Handicap Chase.

PU Bob Bob Bobbin - A three-length fourth to Neptune Collonges in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle the previous November must have been the reason why this was in the race. That followed victory in a Handicap Chase over the likes of Distant Thunder and Simon but I can't see much else that would warrant a place in this company. Has had 15 races since winning just the one, a Veterans Handicap Chase at Newbury last year. Has had five runs this season, pulled up in the last three.

P Halcon Genelardais - Had won this season's Welsh National (beating Mon Mome amongst others) but was a soft ground specialist. Possibly 'in the grip of the handicapper' as In ten subsequent runs has finished second four times, third twice and fourth twice (one of those in Denman's Gold Cup). Also pulled up when Kauto regained the crown in 2009. Last run was seventh in last year's Welsh National and has entries in the Scottish version and the Bet365 Gold Cup.

F Marble Garden - the other vanity runner. Sandwiched this run between a 50+ length beating in Sublimity's Champion Hurdle and being pulled up in a Cartmel Handicap Chase three weeks later. Then went back to France, winning a three-runner hurdle (getting weight from the others) at Angers but failing  to win in six more attempts. Last seen in December 2007 so possibly glue or someone's dinner by now.

UR Idle Talk - Second in the previous year's Royal and Sun Alliance Chase to Star de Mohaison but never hit those heights again. The horse unseated Richard Johnson in a Cheltenham handicap in the January before this race, got rid of Jason Maguire at the fifth on this day and then unseated the same jockey in the Grand National and Scottish National. A tricky ride by the looks of it! Has yet to win another race in 17 attempts and is entered for this year's Scottish National.

There you have it, quality race or sub-standard renewal?  I'll let you decide - I think I'll sit on the fence!