THE King is dead, long live the king! Kauto Star, the two times

Totesport Gold Cup champion had his crown dislodged in a great 2010

Gold Cup on the last day of the Cheltenham National Hunt festival. It

was sad to see such a fantastic horse come unstuck, but the

horrendous mistake he made at an early jump meant he was always

fighting a losing battle to gain his third crown. However, it was not

his stablemate and next door neighbour Denman, who won his second

championship, but Imperial Commander, who put in a superb round of

jumping to win the big race for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and

jockey Paddy Brennan.

Whether the King will regain his best form next year remains to be

seen but there is no doubt that Denman, ridden by AP McCoy ran a

superb race and looks good if he turns out for the Aintree festival

in a few days.

Westcountry trainers had a mixed bag of luck at the festival but

David Pipe enjoyed two winners — neither ridden by stable jockey Tom

Scudamore — and

Exmoor trainer Philip Hobbs had the first winner on the first day

in the shape of Menorah well ridden by loyal stable jockey Richard

Johnson.

My highlight was watching Big Bucks take the Ladbroke's World Hurdle for the

second year running. Notorious among aficionados for hitting "a flat

spot" during a race and then running on well, he raced this one

without his trademark blemish and came up the hill a true champion.

He was one of the few favourites to come home first over the four

days, when more than 220,000 people saw the races that matter in the

NH calendar, culminating in a crowd just short of 68,000 on Totesport

Gold Cup day. So much for the effects of the recession!

Despite the lack of fancied horses taking first spot — casualties

included Dunguib, Long Run, Master Minded, as well as King Kauto — it

was still a magnificent event and enthusiasts have already started

counting off the days to Cheltenham 2011 and planning their next visit.

Aintree and the John Smith's Grand National may capture the hearts

and minds of the once in a while punter but to devoted 'sticks'

supporters, the real thing is found at Prestbury Park, Cheltenham, in

March.

The weather this year was nowhere near as bad as forecast, with the

only persistent rain being on the last afternoon after about 3pm.

Considering the lousy winer, the course staff had the two tracks in a

fine condition.

A long range tip — back Menorah for the Champion Hurdle next year,

when he will be six years old and even stronger in a race that is

always run at a fast pace.

Let us look forward with to another feast of horse racing.