Kauto Star with his ecstatic connections.

he's one in a million!

Kauto Star silenced his critics in scintillating fashion and propelled himself into the upper echelons of racing history when careering away with the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

After a calamitous week for punters, the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old raised the roof when hitting the front at the second-last before surviving a mistake at the final fence to oblige as the 5-4 favourite.

The French-bred has divided opinion like no other during the winter months, chalking up a series of top-class victories over two and three miles, but almost throwing it away with heart-stopping errors late in his races.

A minor blunder crept in late in the blue riband, too, but Ruby Walsh's mount was a different league and surged up the hill two and a half lengths clear of Exotic Dancer, with Turpin Green the same distance back in third.

In doing so he netted owner Clive Smith a £1million bonus on offer from betting exchange firm Betfair for any horse winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton before the Cheltenham prize.

Nicholls, who also saddled See More Business to victory in 1999, said: "He has now won six on the bounce; a Tingle Creek, a King George and a Gold Cup - he just has bags of class.

"This isn't just good for me, it is good for racing and he is a real superstar.

"All the talk about his jumping has been a load of rubbish, why couldn't people just concentrate on the fact he had won all his five races this season? He has silenced his critics now.

"Ruby knew what he had to do and I just told him to go out there and do what you do best.

"I told him to just have faith in him and that is what he did. It feels brilliant, it's absolutely unbelievable, I cannot tell you how nerve-wracking this last month has been.

"I hadn't stopped smiling with the weather forecast this week and it has just kept drying up. I didn't want to run him in a bog.

"Going left-handed here was never going to be a problem and it was only a little mistake he made at the last.

"It takes an exceptional horse to win a Tingle Creek, King George and Gold Cup in the same season, and Kauto Star is exceptional."

Walsh anchored the market leader towards the rear in the early stages and there was barely an anxious moment for connections as he put the race to bed when pouncing after the turn for home.

He easily put daylight between himself and the field, unlike in his prep-run at Newbury where he was pushed all the way to the line by L'Ami.

Nicholls continued: "He needed the run at Newbury and after that it's been work, work, work. Today was the day that mattered.

"He had only done a couple of pieces between Kempton and Newbury and he probably wasn't fit in the Aon."

Stan James make Kauto Star the 3-1 favourite for the 2008 renewal, with a general 2-1 on offer with Coral, Cashmans, William Hill and VC Bet, while Blue Square and Ladbrokes offer just 7-4.

"There is no point going again with him this season as he has won six races, a bonus and a Gold Cup, so we will rest him now for next season," added Nicholls.

"We have been aggressive with him this year, but we will probably campaign him with one race in mind next year. I would love to win a third Tingle Creek with him, too.

"He is certainly the best I have trained, but I will leave everyone else to decide how he compares with the greats."

Walsh, winning the race for the first time, said: "He was settled in the parade ring and during the race, so it was just a matter of when I pressed the button.

"He got there easily enough, there was just a little doubt about whether he would get home or not.

"I completely forgot about all the pressure during the race, despite everybody having an opinion on Kauto Star. This is the greatest race and he has won it easily.

"People have been asking if he would stand up or not, but he has proved it under pressure now and landed a £1million bonus in the process.

"He probably is a once in a lifetime horse with winning at two and three miles. The sheer delight and relief after the line was amazing."

Smith also picked up £100,000 in winning bets and secured the Racing UK Order Of Merit title.

He said: "I can't tell you how thrilled I am. I am so excited.

"I have been dreaming about today for years as I have always regarded his race as the premier steeplechase.

"This has been the dream since I came here in 1974 and saw Captain Christy win after Pendil unfortunately fell. I've had horses since 1987 so for 20 years I had hoped that one day I might win this. I'm pleased as punch.

"About 40 people have come with me from the Virginia Water area and from around the country. I think we'll be celebrating tonight."

Reflecting on the bonus, golf course proprietor Smith added: "I will spend that, but the Gold Cup will be there forever."

And he had a plea for the press.

"I have spoken to the French and the pronunciation is 'Corto' not 'Kato'. Please get it right."

Once thing is for sure, he is definitely a Star.