Kauto Star - Legend of National Hunt

Alastair Down recalls the remarkable exploits of the two-time Gold Cup, five-time King George winner. Video produced by Nick Lightfoot.
More video, stories and full race schedule at racing.channel4...

[@pkmckay147]

After the sad news of Alastair Down's passing, had to come on here to remember him at his brilliant best - true genius of his profession

[@lucasasteau8846]

Me too

[@BigRaceFocus]

Me three 😢

[@otismack5916]

Alastair Down's finest hour too. A brilliant piece of journalism.

[@kevinhenry7776]

A genius

[@glossypompom4465]

Absolutely. Alastair Down is the Kauto Star of racing journalism

[@user-golfing2024]

Hes actually underrated still never c his like again

[@Damiansssable]

R.I.P. Alastair Down

[@TommyAye]

When the Cheltenham Festival starts every year I always look back at the old footage of Kauto Star. Watching him is what made me fall in love with horses and racing. A true legend and I still miss him

[@abibrown7548]

THOMAS I LOVE KAUTO STAR WAS ONLY 8 WHEN HE FIRST WON THE GOLD CUP. HORSE OF MY LIFETIME!!!

[@darsfc1]

Alistar down is truly remarkable. A word wizard! Channel 4 misses him. Great, great piece.

[@andymartin1903]

I loved this horse with all my heart. Running side by side with Denman in 2011 2 from the finish will be my greatest moment. For about 3 seconds everything seemed to go in slow motion as I believed the 2 old foes were going to run over the line together but Long Run came through. In my heart forever.x

[@CheltenhamtipsCoUk1234]

RIP Kauto Star. Gone but NEVER forgotten! Run free furry friend.

[@MrBehindthesun]

Run free Kauto Star... legend and hero for so many of us. What a sad day and hard to find any words :-(

[@malcs0]

big gulps. Tears in my eyes. I was a massive "Dessie" fan, until "Kauto Star" arrived on the scene. I'm not a betting man, but every time "Kauto" ran I was willing him home every race. He and Ruby were just the perfect combination. Wonderful video by "Fat Al" who I miss greatly on the TV.

[@leesog3203]

Rest in heavenly peace champ! God Bless You! I can't believe you're gone...

[@phdiers]

Oh my, brought a tear to my eye---LOVE you Kauto, I am from the US, you got made me fall in love with the "Chase"-

[@JetsRock888]

Very sad news to hear today, a genuine racing legend.

[@Hannah_DoubleYou]

This horse made me love jumps racing. I was gutted when I heard what happened. Rest in Peace big fella, you're running in the stars now

[@femalereddevil]

What a horse. The best I ever seen. So sad that he's gone RIP rest in peace super star

[@stilllaughing3959]

We were so lucky to have watched such an amazing animal.

[@nigelbrooks5235]

Wonderful tribute to the magnificent Kauto.

[@xyzxyz997]

Kauto Star my hero. Thanks for the best memories any horse has provided me. You were truly the greatest we will ever see. God bless you.

[@glossypompom4465]

Alastair Down RIP. The most eloquent writer and spokesman that racing could have wished for. Plenty of top class races up there for him to report on x

[@cerrielang4815]

DEVASTATED...absolutely heartbroken to loose the 1st 'king of kings' racehorse....there will never be another champion like you 'KAUTO STAR' ...R.I.P. KING OF KINGS XX....SADLY MISSED....!

[@beverleymorris167]

Scumbags ... should have finished his days munching grass in a field..... greedy

[@cerrielang4815]

miss you KAUTO STAR ...you were my boy!!.....love you always love GLADYS and cerrie xxx

[@billturner2613]

What a beautiful tribute.R.I.P KAUTO STAR

[@intersanctum]

Bill Turner This isn't a tribute. This was recorded before. Real tributes will be here eventually.

[@annedoughty7141]

Rest in peace Kauto star, you have left us with unforgettable memories, thank you.

[@annnn766]

It's been a year today......................miss you Kauto, the horse of MY lifetime xx RIP

[@beverleymorris167]

His rating was too high....good horse though

[@abibrown7548]

RIP Kauto think of you everyday. First ever race I watched was the 2007 gold cup at the age of 7. Brought a tear my eye watching you win and never looked backing. KAUTO the greatest horse of my life. Impeccable of Broadcast this tears in my eyes.

[@abibrown7548]

LOVE YOU KAUTO THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

[@abibrown7548]

HELLO KAUTO I LOVE YOU STILL I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY

[@roberto4001000]

@@abibrown7548 Arkle would destroy kauto star easy and I love kauto .

[@SidAntrobus]

Still shed a tear when I watch this .. simply the best .. Thankyou kauto

[@gerardfoley9619]

I grew up watching this brilliant race horse every time he raced he send chills down my spine, ruby and kauto star and a great connection together, we well never see another classy horse like him thanks for all the good memories you gave us RIP KAUTO STAR

[@andrewnelis9791]

True legends of the sport

[@scouserdan3]

2 chase triple crowns, 4 betfair chases, 5 king George chases and 2 gold cups? Absolutely unbelieveable horse by far the best jumps horse I’ve ever witnessed never mind comparing him to arkle people should be compared to kauto! The best ever sleep well king!

[@beverleymorris167]

@Northern Mountain rubbish.....all level weight races against Mainly average horses.....only gave weight twice and got stuffed.....when a few decent ones came he got beat ...long run, imperial commander...he only beat Denman. When illness did for him. He would never have given the gold cup winners weight. Overated

[@roberto4001000]

@Northern Mountain Arke would beat him 20 lengths giving him 2 stone ARKLE best there'll ever be .

[@spaz5138]

I'm his biggest fan no one knows him more than me I love him so much RIP

[@martinhill9261]

What a beautiful horse he was.I loved him.

[@JordanSM1997]

God bless Kauto, what a fighter.

[@JordanSM1997]

Here’s to Alastair Down, a true master.

[@joshuamahaka4521]

A film about this magnificent horse needs to be made

[@LilithCharles]

It's great that this exciting sport honors its horses.👏🐎

[@gp5017]

RIP Kauto! You are a hero!

[@Shumik1997]

Rest in Peace, I`ll miss you, legend

[@ShinyGoldBacon]

Never heard of this horse until I read today that he was recently put down. What a shame I only learned of him after he is gone. RIP beautiful boy. :(

[@stilllaughing3959]

What an animal pure heart..I always backed kauto and wore my green and yellow scarf with pride .Sleep easy Kauto Star xx

[@gemmawhitehead4725]

A fantastic horse he will never be forgotten

[@xbhdhdgang2376]

Long live the king RIP Kauto

[@mrbigshot1986]

brillant horse - one of the best - my personal fav was his first Tingle Creek win

[@iaindann3627]

Alastair Downs amazing work is awesome, crying Shame he isn’t more prevalent these days, waste in my eyes.

[@Hen71557]

All the more poignant after today's sad news...RIP Kauto Star..

[@MrLimbking]

Rip champ

[@jacob4690]

Greatest ever

[@roberto4001000]

ARKLE would annihilate him .....fact .

[@markllewellyn2824]

I agree,,there must be a film made for this legend,,king kauto,,,my favourite horse of all time,,when he was on form,,which was most of the time,,he was untouchable,,what a race in the betfair,,with imperial commander,it was just great,,fought all the way to the line,,and what a fan base,,he was just incredible,,,film film film,,,rest in peace king kauto,,you where the best of all.

[@roberto4001000]

And the film would be called ARKLE 😉

[@goonervillegonad3662]

RIP old man ❤️❣️

[@Nautilus1972]

1. Arkle. 2. Flyingbolt. 3. Golden Miller 4. The rest .....

[@spaz5138]

THATS MY BOY

[@spaz5138]

IM HIS BIGGEST FAN NO ONE KNOWS HIM MORE THAN ME I LOVE HIM SO MUCH R.I.P REST IN PEACE BOY WHO WAS A GREAT RACEHORSE AND I MISS HIM BECAUSE HE'S DEAD AND NOT COMING BACK R.I.P YOUR LEGAND LIVES ON!!!!!!!!

[@STEOKEO]

RIP Alastair.

[@spaz5138]

That's my boy

[@brianclarke61993]

Is he the greatest horse we've ever seen?? I am far too young to remember Arkle and the likes, but from my period I think Kauto and Denman were the greatest I've ever seen and if I live till I'm a hundred I very much doubt I'll see a better horse, what a champion

[@beverleymorris167]

Dessie was a better horse.... Denman was better than kauto...only illness stopped him fully dominating that period

[@roberto4001000]

ARKLE would give him 2 stone and still beat him .

[@beverleymorris167]

@@roberto4001000 👍👍👍👍

[@roberto4001000]

@@beverleymorris167 Thank you Beverley somebody needs to talk sense to these young bucks .

[@beverleymorris167]

Denman developed heart problems after he trounced kauto at Cheltenham. Even after his problems he was 4-1 at at Cheltenham. Kauto was piss poor at the Festival..... Arkle only lost once at Cheltenham ( Massey Ferguson) a week after he had conceded stones in Hennessy. He ran 4 times at Cheltenham festival and won the lot ! If Denman had,nt been ill Kauto wouldn't have won again at Cheltenham.

[@andrewnelis9791]

Kauto star the legend

[@bazggw6878]

Great horse over all distances won a fortune backing him u cld get 15/8-11/10 about him in big races i remember backing him at 3/1 when he beat Long run in the King George.

[@patricwilliams4647]

Arrival Of The Bird is the name of the song.

[@williamhhv6973]

i was looking for that, thank you!

[@barbaradyson6951]

There is a report a comparison between kauto star and arkle. In which kauto star came out on top. He also carried top weight to a 36 lengths win in the kg. Also Golden Miller was voted Horse of the Century.

[@suemaher5282]

Wrong I'm afraid. Kauto is my fave but ARKLE will always be the greatest.

[@beverleymorris167]

King George is levels now. Kauto got beat twice when giving bits of weight. The king George was a handicap in arkles time... A lot of people don't know that....he gave stones in his king George!! Won by a fence..,Arkle was a phenomenon!!!!

[@beverleymorris167]

Get your facts right idiot.... Kauto was on levels in his king George. It was Arkle who gave weight in his, as it was a handicap back then. Get your facts right.

[@roberto4001000]

Cop onto yourself ... ARKLE would give kauto 2 stone and a 20 length beating

[@beverleymorris167]

Wot rubbish....kauto top weight in king George?? It was level weight in kautos king George....Arkle gave weight in his king George!!! Get your facts right Babs!!!

[@davidwacko6623]

i got scarfs posters of this horse always be best ever no horse ever compare 2 this

[@harpalchauhan428]

👏👏👏👏

[@mrcool1706]

I miss you Kauto. Clive Smith was out of order.

[@chrisdoyle2039]

i am sad for kauto star ah

[@footballsportsnews6319]

Ap McCoy is there

[@carl1551]

Fuckin don!

[@beverleymorris167]

P.s....dessie was better, just as good at 2 miles, won 4 king George V2 chases, gold cup, also 3 mile five twice giving lumps of weight, dessie is rated about right, kauto should be under his rating, not as versatile.

[@barbaradyson6951]

THEY FORGOT DESSIE.

[@markllewellyn2824]

Kauto did really well,to finish 7l behind denman,,,,has he hit most fences,,mistake after mistake,,,just think if he had a clear round,,,denman wouldn’t have lived with him

[@beverleymorris167]

Rubbish....Denman was at his best before illness Denman destroyed him

[@markllewellyn2824]

@@beverleymorris167 I’m not taking anything away from denman,he was a brilliant horse,,it’s funny how denman still beat Neptune collage by the same distance,in the 2009 gold cup,as what he did in the 2008,,sorry to say,Kautostar was on song in the 2009,not sloppy hitting virtually every fence,don’t take my word for it,,ask ruby walsh,,he’d pick kauto every time,better horse,much more versatile,and to win a king george at nearly 12,,3 days short,,denman couldn’t even run on that course,,I seen him run at kempton,beaten 40l,,,by madison de berlay,,kauto was king 🤴

[@beverleymorris167]

It is a jumps race.....not a flat race....denman better before illness, in a lot of people's minds. I,m just glad he hammered kauto at Cheltenham When both in there prime. Kauto would've been even more overated than he is now.......in my opinion, Not yours....bye .

[@markllewellyn2824]

@@beverleymorris167 you still got the lenths between him and Neptune college,,same amount of lenths,in 2008 and 2009,,only difference is,,king kauto was 13 lenths in front of denman in 2009 lol,,,the greatest,,even beat despise record at kempton,,4 betfair chases,,,tingle creeks,,champion chases,2 miles to 3.2 miles,,it didn’t make a difference any going,,was only unlucky not to win 6 king George’s,,without ruby in the saddle, First horse to lose the gold cup,only to win it back again,,Kautostar was a freak of nature,,,r,I,p king Kautostar

[@beverleymorris167]

@@markllewellyn2824 never bought that rubbish....his king George wins were mainly against 2 mile non stayers who didn't really get three miles,...long run slammed him in it.... Madison de berlais never won a race again and was A handicaper. As for winning it back...he was a loser in the first place.,to have to win it back.

[@livetwice7702]

What a tragedy he was given to Laura Collett to “ train “ as a Dressage Horse , he would be alive today and out with his pasture buddy Denman at Paul Nichols yard now , instead he suffered the worst death ever, cross tied at the end hardly able to stand , all on her watch , how she sleeps at night I do not know .......the utter destruction of a Legend , and you caused it ......do you think they care ....

[@BreakerBarney]

shame he was ruined by that crappy event rider

[@beverleymorris167]

Sad news ....Denman was a better horse though, destroyed him, only illness stopped him, a think he finished. 3-1 in races at. Cheltenham. He never won when he twice gave weight, and was beat off levels too many times...also never carried 12stone in a race, overated!!!! Good but overated.