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Subscribe to RSS Feed star shines brightest of all
Kauto Star jumps the last.
By Dave Ord
The Star shone bright on the coolest day of the Festival. Forget the murky, overcast conditions, it's Kauto Star who illuminated the week, his win that we will remember above all others. To describe him as versatile is a woeful understatement. Here is a horse who would start favourite for a Champion Chase or a Gold Cup. He has the pace to burn off the speed merchants at the minimum trip, the stamina to beat the stayers to chasing's blue riband. He even has a quirk, which is always nice, in that he seems intent on clouting the final fence in any race he contests. Hit them hard is his way but never for a moment look like falling. He oozes class. Just look at the way he won here, accelerating at a time staying chasers aren't supposed to. He was fifth at the second last, a matter of strides later he was first. Quite simply Kauto Star is the speediest staying chaser I have ever seen. He's frighteningly good. So is Tony McCoy, who nursed Exotic Dancer into the race beautifully only to run into traffic problems at the bottom of the hill. At least he was on the scoreboard already through Wichita Lineman, who needed more conventional McCoy assistance from the saddle to win the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle. The victories of Wichita and Kauto Star gave punters what they have so sorely lacked all week, money in the pocket. It has been a tough four days for those who like to fight the good battle with the powers of evil, but at Cheltenham hope always springs eternal. After Thursday's bloodbath they merely dusted themselves down, got out the Guinness hats and headed back into battle. They needed Wichita Lineman and Kauto Star. So did the Festival. On Gold Cup day we got the definite performance of the meeting. No more questions, we have the answer. Kauto Star is the real deal.
