KAUTO STAR IS ‘nearly there’ in his battle to make the Cheltenham Gold Cup next Friday.

The 12-year-old was hurt in a fall under Ruby Walsh last week and was rated at just 50-50 to feature in Friday’s blue-riband race.

But Kauto is on the way to a full recovery, according to trainer Paul Nicholls.

“We’re very happy. It was just what we wanted,” the Nichols said after the horse came through a gallop yesterday. ”He went nicely and was full of enthusiasm,” he told Channel 4′s The Morning Line.

“He came back last night and was straight into his grub. He ate up this morning and there’s not a bother on him. We’re really, really pleased.

“He’s 100% sound this morning so we’re very happy. You don’t have to decide (whether to run) until the day before technically, but we’re going to school him on Monday morning. The signs are all good – he came out of that yesterday and he appears to be back to 100% normal now,” he added.

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