Kauto doesn't Follow the Plan

Racing: Follow The Plan won the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup as Kauto Star pulled up. Paul Nicholls' charge raced on the outside of the field throughout but began to lose touch with five to jump and Ruby Walsh quickly called it a day.

At the other end of the field Roberto Goldback took over and was still in front at the last when making a terrible blunder and unseating Robbie Power.

This left Follow The Plan (20-1) clear to give Tom Doyle and Oliver McKiernan a high-profile win by 11 lengths.

He was chased home by the Dessie Hughes-trained pair of Vic Venturi and Rare Bob.

Tom George's Nacarat was the fourth and only other finisher.

McKiernan said: "We came here more or else for place money, we thought. "There again we thought if Kauto Star didn't run his usual race then we might have a better chance. This was our local track so were happy to come here.

"We were hopeful going to the last as our horse finishes strong. My opinion was our horse was the freshest horse in the race coming here so we thought it might give him a good chance."