Star shines again for record-breaker Ruby

Kauto Star made history today when he became the first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Ruby Walsh rode him to a dramatic victory in a race that developed into a repeat duel with his stablemate Denman.

Last year it was Denman who celebrated victory but he had no answer this afternoon as 7-4 favourite Kauto Star, who won the race in 2007, stormed into the history books in stunning style. Denman followed in second with Exotic Dancer taking third ahead of Christian Williams on Neptune Collonges who had led for much of the contest. After the race, jockey Ruby Walsh who notched up his own bit of history with a record-breaking seventh winner of the Festival, was full of praise for his incredible mount.

He said: "He's the greatest horse I've ever ridden. He can do the lot, he's just magic. He travelled superbly. I had planned to follow Christian Williams but Kauto pinged from four out."

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "He was never going to lose today but what a race Denman ran as well - he'll be back next year."

Walsh's afternoon had earlier got off to a cracking start when he partnered the Nicholls-trained American Trilogy (20-1) to an impressive victory in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.

In the opener, Nicky Henderson's Zaynar, ridden by Barry Geraghty, narrowly-beat Walkon to win a thrilling Triumph Hurdle.

A jubilant Geraghty, who was riding his third winner at this year's Festival, said: "He was always finding and holding Walkon all the way."

Charles Byrnes's Weapon's Amnesty (8-1) hung on to deny Walsh and Nicholls yet another winner with Pride Of Dulcote in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, giving the Irish their ninth winner at the meeting.