Kauto Star crowned chasing's champion

By Dave Thompson

CHELTENHAM (Reuters) - Kauto Star, the 5-4 favourite ridden by Ruby Walsh, survived another last fence scare to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and be crowned one of steeplechasing's greatest champions on Friday.

The victory also landed a one million pound bonus for the horse's businessman owner Clive Smith after winning two other races linked with the Gold Cup this season.

Second place, 2-1/2 lengths away, went to 9-2 second favourite Exotic Dancer with 40-1 outsider Turpin Green the same distance away, finishing third of the 18 runners.

Kauto Star had won all his five previous races this season, but hit the last fence hard in the most recent two, raising doubts about whether Cheltenham's stiff fences might catch him out.

Walsh and Kauto Star looked all over the winners coming to the last after travelling smoothly throughout but racegoers' hearts were in their mouths as the pair rose at the obstacle.

AWESOME HORSE

The duo brushed through the top but kept the momentum going for the stamina-sapping run up the tough Cheltenham hill.

Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: "He is awesome - a very, very good horse. There are not too many horses who have done what he has done this year. Maybe people might believe in him now."  Continued...