Can the Star shine brightly one last time?

HAVING seen one former champion in Master Minded trail home a well-beaten eighth this week, Clive Smith is relying on his old favourite Kauto Star to propel him back into the limelight in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

It now seems an age ago that Smith, along with trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh, had a complete stranglehold on all the major National Hunt prizes with the two French imports — but time waits for no horse.

On his incredible CV, Kauto Star has won 21 of his 36 races, including four King Georges, two Gold Cups, two Tingle Creeks and three Betfair Chases.