I am in a very fortunate position to have attended 20 successive Cheltenham Festivals.

There have been magical days in those times, Istabraq's three Champion Hurdles, Best Mate's Gold Cup domination, Moscow Flyer, Inglis Drever, the list goes on. But nothing has surpassed today.

No horse had ever regained the Gold Cup crown. Plenty have tried. Here we had history unfolding in front of our very eyes. And there was a glorious inevitability about it.

Unlike 2008, Ruby Walsh and Kauto Star were in a perfect rhythm. Travelling and jumping fluently, perfectly positioned on the rails, it was how it should be.

Up front Neptune Collonges led the field a merry dance but he was always covered by the winner and Denman. Team Ditcheat were dominating again.

Down the hill they came and with a swift leap over the third last, Kauto Star took over.

It was Denman who was going to challenge his next-door neighbour. The defending champion had been roundly written off after a below-par reappearance at Kempton. But this was the day his crown was on the line.

They were together turning for home, Exotic Dancer in vain pursuit in third. All of a sudden we had the head-to-head we craved 12 months ago.

Then the answer was Denman. In four strides straightening up we knew it wasn't this time.

Kauto Star accelerated. The brilliant speed which carried him to the top of the two-mile chasing tree was still in place. The stamina-sapping three miles of the Gold Cup hadn't blunted that. The crowd began to roar. The favourite was going in.

Over the second last he rolled, the advantage growing. Four lengths, five, and over the last. Cheltenham erupted like only Cheltenham can.

Papers, hats, racecards were in the air. People literally danced with joy in the stands. Ruby Walsh was their darling, they chanted his name, he punched the air. They loved it.

Those closest to Kauto Star were overjoyed. Clifford Baker raced up the horse chute punching the air and skipping. For even the hardened professionals this was something else.

The great champions have always been able to bounce back from defeats, to cope with adversity and setbacks. Today Kauto Star confirmed his status as one of the greats.