Kauto Star will bid for a third Cheltenham Gold Cup crown next March providing he's as good as he can be, owner Clive Smith has confirmed.
Friday's blue riband at Cheltenham was billed as a rematch between Kauto Star and Denman but it was Imperial Commander who triumphed at Prestbury Park. A bad blunder at the eighth fence all but ended Kauto Star's hopes of a Gold Cup hat-trick before he crashed out at the fourth last.
Fortunately the ten-year-old was able to stand up from the fall and looked none the worse for his spill as he cantered back to the stables under Ruby Walsh and Smith admits the gelding was lucky to survive the incident.
"It was a terrible fall and we were so lucky to get away with it. He's an amazingly lucky horse," said Smith.
"I don't know how he did not break his neck. Now we just want him to recover and do our best to get him as right as possible," said Smith.
"We're lucky he's safe and sound, and 100%."
Unsurprisingly Kauto Star will be put away from the remainder of the season with a view a November return pencilled in. It is likely he could return to Haydock for the Betfair Chase with the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal another possible target. However, Smith has warned that he will only be brought back if he appears to have lost none of his talent.
"He certainly will not run again unless he's as good as he can be. If there's any doubt at all, we won't be pushing him," Smith told BBC Sport.
"If he feels good we would not want to hold him back, and will certainly take it race by race.
"I still think we can come back and give him (Imperial Commander) a very good race, if not beat him.
"You never know. He'll be 11 next year, but still only a year older than Imperial Commander.
"There are all the provisos, if everything goes right, we will try for the Gold Cup again. He's such a performer, he might get close, but Imperial Commander could well improve and it will be tough.
"Imperial Commander ran a brilliant race, he was well ridden and it's all credit to Nigel Twiston-Davies. It was a very good training performance and he's a good chap
"I was impressed with Weapon's Amnesty. He came through to take it up before the last fence and looked a Gold Cup horse in the making."