2007 Kauto Star
The 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup was a competitive renewal, featuring 18 runners, but all eyes were on the short-priced favourite Kauto Star, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh. Kauto Star had won his last six completed starts over fences, including the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the King George VI Chase at Kempton earlier in the 2006/07 season. Consequently, victory in the ‘Blue Riband’ event would win the inaugural ‘Betfair Million’, a £1 million bonus offered by gambling company Betfair, for connections, over and above the £242,355 winning prize money.
Once underway, favourite backers barely had an anxious moment. Patiently ridden, Kauto Star made a forward move heading down the hill on the approach to four out and, switched to the outside, made further progress turning for home. Driven by Walsh, he quickened into the lead over the second-last and, thereafter, despite the best efforts of his nearest pursuers, Exotic Dancer and Turpin Green, was not for catching.
Kauto Star hit the final fence, briefly halting his momentum, but recovered sufficiently to pass the post two-and-half lengths ahead of second-favourite Exotic Dancer, trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by Tony McCoy, who had also finished runner-up in the King George VI Chase. Turpin Green, a largely unconsidered 40/1 chance trained by Nicky Richards and ridden by Tony Dobbin, belied his generous starting price by keeping on to finish third, a similar distance behind Exotic Dancer. Monkerhostin, trained by Philips Hobbs and ridden by Richard Johnson, finished fourth, five lengths further behind, without ever threatening.
Commenting on his performance, winning trainer Nicholls said of Kauto Star, “He was going so well that I think he just lost his concentration at the last, but he never looked like falling. I don’t know what goes through his mind when he does. that but he’s not tired.” For his part, winning owner Clive Smith said, “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.”