THE British sporting public loves an underdog, but as Kauto Star will prove if he wins tomorrow's Cheltenham Gold Cup, the nation's horse-racing fans also love a hero.

So while the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old will not make too many punters rich at odds of 13-8, he could still make an awful lot of people happy if he surges to victory in steeplechasing's blue riband event.

The horse-racing world tends to be insular and self-contained but, every now and then, a horse appears to transcend the confines of the sport.

Former Gold Cup winner Best Mate was one such champion, following in the hoof-prints of Arkle, Red Rum and Desert Orchid, chasers who commanded the affection of casual observers.

Kauto Star isn't quite in that category yet, but he would be well on the way to becoming the next people's champion if he was to follow up his successes in the Tingle Creek and King George by claiming his maiden Gold Cup victory tomorrow.

He has the class to reach legendary status - his performances this season have earned him the highest official rating for a chaser since Desert Orchid's retirement - but class alone is not enough to guarantee a wider public appeal.

More is needed and, thanks to his flaws, Kauto Star also has the story to go with the successes.

Supporters who have backed him tomorrow will not start to breathe easily until he has safely negotiated the final fence because, for all of his qualities, Ruby Walsh's mount comes with a caveat.

His jumping under pressure can be suspect, and he stumbled over the final fence at Kempton on Boxing Day, before all but uprooting the last obstacle as he held off L'Ami to claim the AON Chase at Newbury in February.

The fact that he won both of those races speaks volume for his heart and spirit - qualities that the great British public appears to admire in a chaser above all others - but such an obvious chink in his armour ensures that the experience of watching him race will never be a peaceful one.

Twelve months ago, Kauto Star was sent off as favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, only to come crashing down at the third fence, but his vulnerability at every turn only adds to his appeal.

Provided he can overcome his only inadequacy today, he will establish a legacy that could enrich the racing world for years to come.

THE opening day of this year's festival was blighted by a succession of false starts.

Jump racing is now a multi-million pound industry, but races in which the jostling for position before the first fence can be vital are still started by a man in a trilby lifting up a piece of string.

Fixed starting stalls are out of the question when horses are completing more than one lap, but in an era when the authorities are having to be more and more vigilant to guard against possible corruption, it seems ridiculous that so haphazard a system is still in place