Kauto Star will race on as a 12-year-old after Paul Nicholls moved to quash all speculation.
The four-time King George VI Chase winner, who has also won two Cheltenham Gold Cups, went down fighting on Friday when third behind Long Run in the blue riband event.
After his defeat at Kempton in January there had been some voices calling for him to be retired but the veteran chaser showed there is plenty of life in him with yet another fine run in the biggest race of the season.
Kauto Star’s stablemate Denman fared slightly better by finishing second and Nicholls will also be welcoming him back to Ditcheat in the autumn.
Via the social networking website Twitter, Nicholls said: “Just to end all speculation and rumour once and for all Kauto and Denman are not going to be retired!”
Nicholls later said Kauto Star could even run at Punchestown in May.
PA AAP TURF
