Kauto Star recovers from infection

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star will return to training this week after a minor foot infection.

The eight-year-old won at Ascot on Saturday before the problem with his off-hind foot became apparent.

But trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed the infection has cleared up and he should return to the gallops within days.

Nicholls said: "He's fine. I took him out for a pick of grass last night and he was virtually sound.

"The problem seems to be well over and we're hoping he'll walk for a couple of days and canter on Wednesday morning, which is what he'd have been doing normally without the injury.

"We have lots of nice horses to run (at Cheltenham) and you obviously don't want the hiccups that we had on Saturday evening. We just have to try and eliminate those and make sure everything goes right up until the days that they run."

Kauto Star's stablemate and Gold Cup rival Denman is also in good form in the build-up to the Festival.

Nicholls said: "He's fine and he had a quiet week after he won at Newbury. He starts back into full work this morning and he's in fine shape.

"They're both obviously good horses. It's going to be a very interesting race and hopefully very good for racing.

"There is a bit of a balance towards Kauto, just from the fact that he's the reigning champ but both horses are from a professional team, will turn up there on the day in the best of health, and both will run 100 per cent on their merits."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.