West Country Tizzard

Synchronised, has been given a hero's return in Temple Guiting, after winning the big race at yesterday's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Jonjo O'Neill, Synchronised's trainer, said:

"It's brilliant for everyone. It's magic. This is a big team effort and everybody was involved."

Synchronised, will get a hero's return to Temple Guiting in Gloucestershire after yesterday's triumph at Cheltenham.

The 8-1 shot ridden by Tony McCoy, won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as two-time victor Kauto Star was pulled up in the early stages.

Jonjo O'Neill, who is based at Jackdaws Castle in Temple Guiting, is celebrating his first Gold Cup win as a trainer. He said:

"He flowered in the last few days and it was spot-on timing. It's fantastic to win it as a trainer."

Somerset-based trainer Paul Nicholls said Kauto Star, whose participation in the Gold Cup was in jeopardy following a schooling fall a fortnight ago, had returned from the race unscathed.

He said: "He's absolutely fine.

"Ruby wasn't happy after he'd jumped a couple of fences and we said if he wasn't happy to pull him up, and he's done the right thing.

"There's obviously something tweaking him."

Synchronised ridden by A.P McCoy won the 2012 Gold Cup in style at Cheltenham. It was not to be a fairytale ending for Kauto Star though who was pulled out of the race by jockey Ruby Walsh minutes after it began.

Kauto Star failed to finish the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup after jockey Ruby Walsh pulled him up minutes into the race. The 12 year old looked to be struggling less than halfway round the track. Despite his exit he was give a huge round of applause as he passed the grandstand.

The owner of Kauto Star, Clive Smith has told us he's looking forward to the race and despite being around 60 in human years say Kauto could still cause a surprise in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham this afternoon (Race begins at 15.20)

From our Gloucestershire Correspondent Ken Goodwin:

It's the final day of the Cheltenham Festival and it's Gold Cup day. The big race is at 3:20pm this afternoon, where all eyes will be on Kauto Star to see if he can win it for the third time.