Kauto Star made a mess of the final fence

Just as he had on his last run in the King George VI Chase, Kauto Star ploughed through the final fence when seeming to be in control of the race.

But once again the seven-year-old, who was sent off the 2-9 favourite, managed to stay on his feet and then battled to the line to hold off L'Ami by a neck.

Kauto Star's stablemate Royal Auclair was 14 lengths adrift in third place.

Kauto Star, in his last race before the Gold Cup, had coasted to the front of the six-strong field two fences out with L'Ami the only challenger coming to the last.

Walsh had to work hard to get his mount travelling again after his error but the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star managed to keep L'Ami at bay for his fifth win in a row.

Kauto Star will definitely get the Gold Cup trip as he just keeps galloping Trainer Paul Nicholls

His last-fence blunder was the only error in what had otherwise been a foot-perfect display of jumping.

Kauto Star remains a hot favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup but he has been eased out to as long as 7-4 for next month's race.

"It is agonising to watch and it is frustrating really because he jumped absolutely brilliantly - foot-perfect - but just stepped at the last," said Nicholls.

"We have come to expect it now though and he will definitely get the Gold Cup trip as he just keeps galloping.

"He never looks like falling and he is learning all the time. I think he will be OK at Cheltenham - but you wouldn't want him doing it early on in the race.

"We will have to think about how to ride him at Cheltenham now, but I will leave that up to Ruby as he knows him well enough now.

"We have a month to wind him up for Cheltenham and he will go straight there."

Aon Chase (Grade 2)
Newbury, 3m