By Frank Keogh

KAUTO STAR FACTFILE Age: 7 Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Ruby Walsh Owner: Clive Smith Races: 20 Wins: 11 2nd: 4 3rd: 3 Prize money: £527,000

Kauto Star is primed to prove the sceptics wrong and justify favouritism in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, his owner Clive Smith has told BBC Sport.

The seven-year-old horse has become racing's new star, evoking comparisons with the legendary Desert Orchid.

He is unbeaten in five starts this season, but jumping errors late on in his races have divided opinion.

Smith said: "He's repelled all opposition this season and I think he has a very, very good chance."

Interview: Kauto Star's trainer Paul Nicholls

The French-bred Kauto Star, who was bought by businessman Smith for £280,000 in 2004, heads 29 entries for the blue riband at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday 16 March.

He has already beaten several of the sport's top chasers over distances ranging from two miles to three miles, a versatility which hallmarked Dessie's career.

But serious late blunders when winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and the Aon Chase at Newbury in February have given voice to critics.

WHY KAUTO STAR SHOULD WIN Unbeaten: 5/5 this season Rated: Much higher than rivals on official stats Team: Champion trainer; much-respected jockey

Kauto Star also fell on his only previous run at the undulating Cheltenham track, when he was a third-fence casualty in the Champion Chase at the 2006 Festival.

Victories this season have come at Aintree, Haydock, Sandown, Kempton and Newbury.

"What we've got to do is get him jumping like he did at Haydock - that would win any Gold Cup," said Smith.

Smith said trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh would work hard in advance of the big race in an effort to iron out the errors from Kauto Star.

"He's beaten every horse that has been thrown at him, and in the end against the odds at Newbury where he made that mistake," said the 64-year-old businessman from Berkshire.

"He's raced at two miles, two-and-a-half miles and three miles. He's raced twice on a right-handed course and three times left-handed, and won every time."

WHY KAUTO STAR MAY NOT WIN Jumping: Makes late blunders Track: Fell on only previous Cheltenham outing Trip: Never run further than three miles

That Haydock win was the first leg, with the second at Kempton, of the Betfair Million - a £1m bonus offered if a horse can complete the treble by winning both races and then landing the Gold Cup.

Kauto Star has been a hot favourite to do just that since his King George win, although he was eased slightly to a 7-4 chance after his last run.

Smith rates the 2006 champion War Of Attrition and Cheltenham specialist Exotic Dancer as the biggest dangers in the contest.

But he believes his horse has an outstanding chance of maintaining his winning run.

"I've always thought he would like Cheltenham. I would love him to have had a clear round in the past, but I know he is a good jumper, and think that will help him," he said.