( CNN ) -- Kauto Star made racing history on Boxing Day by claiming his fifth King George VI Chase victory at Kempton Park , the first horse to achieve the feat in the 74-year history of the famous race . The 11-year-old gelding , trained by champion trainer Paul Nicholls and ridden by Irishman Ruby Walsh , took up the running from the halfway stage of the three-mile contest to finish ahead of last year 's winner Long Run , with Captain Chris back in third place . Kauto Star won the race four years in succession , from 2006 to 2009 , but was well beaten last year by the younger Long Run , and retirement beckoned after Long Run , five years his junior , also proved victorious in jump racing 's Blue Riband chase -- the Cheltenham Gold Cup -- last March . However , Kauto Star beat his rival in their prep race at Haydock Park earlier this season , and he confirmed his resurgent form with a comfortable victory on Monday , ensuring the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup will once again prove an intriguing clash between the pair . Kauto Star and Desert Orchid ( 1986 , 1988 , 1989 , 1990 ) shared the previous record of four victories in the race -- the second most prestigious level-weights chase on the National Hunt calendar -- but this victory means he is now out on his own with a remarkable five successes . `` It 's amazing , he is just the best , '' Nicholls told reporters . `` We knew we had him in serious order today and if he gets to Cheltenham in that form he 'll be the one to beat in the Gold Cup . '' Kauto Star has twice won the Cheltenham Gold Cup , in 2007 and again in 2009 when he became the first horse in history to regain the trophy . However , he will turn 12 on New Year 's Day and only two horses in the 87-year history of the race have won it at that age .
Kauto Star makes history with his second King George VI Chase victory . The 11-year-old beat 1986 , 1988 , 1989 , 1990 winner Kauto Star at a packed Kempton Park . Kauto Star and George VI Chase had shared the previous record of only two wins .