Kauto Star 'too old' to compete at Rio Olympic in 2016

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has taken up dressage

Paul Nicholls with Kauto Star (Getty Images)

Kauto Star will not compete in the dressage at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, it has been confirmed.

The dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was retired from racing last October, but since December has been retraining in the equestrian discipline. "It takes four to five years to bring horses up to Olympic standard," British Eventing's performance manager, Yogi Breisner, said "The fact he's starting out at 12 means he's simply going to be too close to retirement by the time he has had a chance to get that education."

Breisner added that Kauto Star would take part in a dressage demonstration event at Newbury racecourse on Saturday.