Kauto Star, the 5-4 favourite ridden by Ruby Walsh, survived another last fence scare to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and be crowned one of steeplechasing's greatest champions yesterday.

The victory also landed a one million pound ($1.95 million) bonus for the horse's businessman owner Clive Smith after winning two other races linked with the Gold Cup this season.

Second place, 2-1/2 lengths away, went to 9-2 second favourite Exotic Dancer with 40-1 outsider Turpin Green the same distance away, finishing third of the 18 runners.

Kauto Star had won all his five previous races this season, but hit the last fence hard in the most recent two.

Walsh and Kauto Star brushed through the top but kept the momentum going for the stamina-sapping run up the tough Cheltenham hill.

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