1620: Betfred are facing a £1million payout after taking on Kauto Star at the top price of 9/4 on Friday morning.

The Warrington firm were swamped with bets on the favourite and despite holding the 9/4 for as long as possible, were forced to cut Ruby Walsh's mount to 2/1. Kauto Star was returned at 7/4.

The result was easily the worst of the Festival for Betfred, who had taken a similar stance on defeated Champion Hurdle favourite Binocular on Tuesday.

Betfred boss Fred Done said: "I've been bashed up by Kauto Star's win, but I'll pay out with a smile when a horse produces a performance like that.

"We've seen history made today by the first horse ever to regain the Gold Cup and it was a pleasure to have witnessed it, although obviously not pleasant to watch! Congratulations to Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls.

"It's been a roller-coaster week with two great days for the bookies and two terrible days financially and one thing is for sure - I'll be very careful about taking on Kauto Star again."

Kauto Star is 3/1 to make it a hat-trick of triumphs in 2010 with Denman, who ran such a gallant race to finish second, 6/1 to emulate his stable companion by finishing first-second-first in consecutive Gold Cups.

1605: 7/4 favourite Kauto Star has won the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup and propelled jockey Ruby Walsh to an incredible seventh win at this year's meeting.

Bookmakers Blue Square make the Paul Nicholls' trained chaser the same price (7/4) to come back in 2010 to win the prestigious race for a third time.

Alan Alger spokesman for Blue Square said: "We're absolutely on our knees on the final day of The Festival.

"Ruby Walsh has had an incredible four-days and this is just the icing on the cake for him.

"His previous six winners had been well supported, including 20/1 shot American Trilogy earlier today, but this has just emptied our satchels!

"The roar when he came up the hill was deafening and he has to rate a very short price to come back next year and do it all again."

1600: Kauto Star defied history and provided punters with a £10million windfall when caning the bookies with a rousing repeat of his 2007 success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

"Kauto has been the 'peoples' horse since he replaced Denman at the head of the market in February," said the firm's David Hood.

"The sheer confidence of the public in his trainer Paul Nicholls, had punters backing him into a solid 7/4 favourite on Friday and I estimate they'll be collecting the thick end of £10miilion in winnings."

Hills quotes on the first two for future races:

2009 King George Vi Chase: Kauto Star 4/5
2010 Gold Cup: Kauto Star 2/1, 6/1 Denman
2010 Grand national: Denman 12/1

1400: Zaynar was a gutsy winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle and he is 16/1 at Sky Bet to win the 2010 Champion Hurdle.

He dug deep on the run-in to fend off Walkon and the latter is a 20/1 chance with Sky Bet to take the big one next year.

Nicky Henderson has a strong hand as he has Binocular (6/1 favourite) and reigning champion Punjabi on 8/1.

Michael Shinners of Sky Bet said: "This year's Triumph Hurdle looked a well above average renewal and with five-year-olds fairing much better in the Champion Hurdle now, we feel that Zaynar warrants respect for next year's race.

"The final day has got off to a bad start for bookies as the first three in the Triumph Hurdle betting placed, but we swerved the worst of it going bottom price of 4/1 on Zaynar when as big as 11/2 was on offer elsewhere."

1210: The money continues to pour in for Kauto Star in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Ladbrokes opened the day with the 2007 champion on 9/4 but that has been hastily cut into 7/4.

Sporting Odds also went 9/4 early on but that is now trading at 15/8.

Albertas Run has been trimmed a couple of points in the same race to 12/1 by VC Bet while the same firm have clipped Madison Du Berlais into 15/2 having had him on 10/1 at the start of the day.

The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual is now the getting out stakes at 5.15 and Poquelin is 5/1 from 6/1 at Bet365 and Boylesports.

1100: Sky Bet report that one punter has placed a £25 each-way 'Heinz' bet this week at the Cheltenham Festival.

He has already had Cooldine, Imperial Commander and Quevega come in and now has £20,000 resting on Master of Arts in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and Amicelli in the Foxhunters' Chase.

Sky Bet also report that are paying out on six places in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.

1015: Sunnhillboy comes into the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle in top form and he has been backed this morning.

Tony McCoy's mount opened the day on 12/1 with VC Bet but that has tumbled down to 7/1 and VC Bet go 6/1 from an initial 9/1.

Starluck was a 7/1 chance for the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle but that has dried up and he is now 6/1 at Blue Square, bet365 and Boylesports.

Zaynar goes in the same race and is 4/1 from 5/1 with VC Bet.

0915: The Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup is the obvious place to start as punters get stuck into the final day of action at the Festival.

The Queen's Barber Shop has attacted plenty of money and is now 10/1 from 12/1 with VC Bet, William Hill and bet365.

Exotic Dancer is into 8/1 from an initial 10s at VC Bet and bet365 while punters at Sporting Odds have been backing Kauto Star.

The 2007 winner opened the day on 9/4 but that has been trimmed into 2/1.

At bigger odds, Star De Mohaison is 25s (from 40s) at William Hill and Air Force One is down to 22/1 having been a 25/1 chance with the same firm.