Kauto Star - second despite fall.

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Kauto Star's Cheltenham preparation met with an unexpected hitch at Exeter on Monday when the French-bred lost his unbeaten record for Paul Nicholls in the most dramatic fashion.

Described as "a machine" by his jockey Ruby Walsh after scoring on his British debut at Newbury, Kauto Star started 2-11 for the Weatherbys Bank Novices' Chase.

But all looked lost when he clipped the top of the second-last fence and fell - only for Walsh to grab hold of the reins and quickly remount the five-year-old.

Having surrendered a 12-length lead to Mistral De La Cour (20-1) as well as a full 10 seconds between the fall and the remount, Kauto Star was then ridden without his jockey's feet in the irons over the last and on the run-in.

He finished with such effect that he failed by only a short head to overhaul his Andrew Thornton-ridden rival.

Although this was not by any means an ideal way for Kauto Star to complete his preparation for the Arkle Trophy, Nicholls was far from despondent and is unlikely to give his charge an extra run beforehand.

He said: "My initial reaction is that we will still go straight to Cheltenham as it was just one of those unfortunate things.

"It's not as if he needs any more practice as he's a brilliant jumper, but I always feared something like this could happen in a three-runner race where we were unlikely to get a lead.

"It was always going to be a horlicks of a contest and we were just unlucky. It's a shame there are so few opportunities for these horses and I'm sure it would have been different if he'd had some company."

Walsh told At The Races: "I was heading straight on down to the victory and keeping something for the Arkle, I suppose. It was a bit my own fault.

"He was running a bit quick at it, but if it was more competitive and there was something coming at me, he might have given me something good and long.

"He clipped the top and pitched out on his head. I suppose it's better done today than at the second-last in the Arkle.

"He jumped magic all the way - that was the first he got in deep at. It's all a learning curve with novices so it is better that he learns here than at the Arkle. He's a very good horse."

Nicholls had considered a Grade Two race at Warwick in mid-February for Kauto Star, but unless he has a change of heart, the next time we are likely to see the Arkle favourite is on March 15.

The spill caused barely a ripple in the Arkle betting, with Kauto Star a top priced 11-4 chance for the two-mile novice championship.