CHELTENHAM 2009 was made up of a string of fine performances, both equine and human, that had racegoers gasping, clapping and cheering.

Kauto Star's regaining of the totesport Gold Cup — having let stablemate Denman hold on to it for just a year — rates extremely highly.

The fact that no horse had ever come back to grab the title again after missing out tells part of the story, but it was the manner of his victory which will abide long in my memory.

In 2008, he was not on song, not on form, and both facts became obvious after the first jump of the three miles and two furlongs (he still finished a gallant second).

This year, the story could not have been different. The nearest thing to a blemish was on the last circuit when his legs brushed through the top of one of the fences on the far side.

He jumped magnificently and, like his grey-haired jockey Ruby Walsh, just oozed supreme confidence.

It is not often in a race of this calibre you can say a horse was "always going to win," but this was one of those occasions.

Hats and copies of the Racing Post were hurled in the air as he began to pull clear after the third last fence to gain his revenge over Denman, whose run was itself the product of a great deal of training expertise, care, and patience after his irregular heart problem, which had required an injection into wall of his "pump."

There were many other memorable moments, almost as good: The effort of Westcountry trainer David Pipe and his team to get Well Chief back on the racecourse after more than 600 days of treatment and care was astonishing but he surpassed even that by coming second to the hotpot Master Minded in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Chamption Chase.

Tony McCoy's ride of Wichita Lineman — to his immense disppointment his only win this year at the festival — was sublime.

Neither Pipe nor Philip Hobbs had a winner this year but I am sure they will be back with a bang in 12 months' time.

Paul Nicholls, the trainer of four of the first five in the Gold Cup, gained five wins and his stable jockey, Ruby Walsh, recorded an incredible seven to take the jockeys' title by miles — including on Big Buck's at 6-1 in the Ladbroke's World Hurdle with an almost perfect ride.

Tote turnover was about ten per cent down and the crowd was not quite as big as in previous years but still managed to go well over 200,000 across the four days of horseracing magic.

The Queen's horse, Barbers' Shop, ran creditably in the totesport Gold Cup without being placed and she was present to witness the run. Perhaps next year, it will win?

All in all, it was a festival I will savour for many years to come.

Keith Whitford.