Synchronised surged to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup for jockey Tony McCoy ahead of outsider The Giant Bolster and reigning champion Long Run.

But two time Gold Cup winner and horse racing legend Kauto Star was pulled up in the early stages in what most likely will be his last race.

Synchronised (8/1) travelled well throughout before stealing the lead at the final fence from Long Run, who looked poised for a successive triumph.

The Jonjo O’Neill trained gelding held off a brave effort from 50-1 outsider The Giant Bolster for the £285000 first placed prize.

Midnight Chase set the pace from the tape for the field of 14 but the field was cut by one when the Sir Alex Ferguson owned What A Friend fell at the second fence.

Former champion Kauto Star (7/2) was pulled up by jockey Ruby Walsh before halfway after injuring himself at the water fence.

That left the favourite, Long Run the outstanding candidate in the race but he jumped untidily under amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen.

He struggled to find the strength up the final hill that saw him win by a distance in 2011 as Synchronised and The Giant Bolster were left contesting the victory.

Synchronised superior power up the hill destroyed the outsider as McCoy crossed the finish line to record his second triumph in the race.

Champion Jockey, McCoy, 37, said “He's an amazing horse and it was an amazing performance. He's really delivered.”

Jonjo O’Neill celebrating his first success said Tony McCoy brilliantly kept his charge from making any mistakes.

He said: “A lot of work has gone into him at home so it was a great team effort from the yard. He only came right in the last 10 days or so and we weren't really confident.

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

Trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed Ruby Walsh was concerned during the race over the 12-year-old fitness but the horse seemed absolutely fine.

Kauto Star’s owner Clive Smith said he was 90% certain his horse would not race again.

 “What a great career he's had and he's been a wonderful horse,” Smith said.

“I've been so proud to own him and also the support of everybody has been absolutely tremendous.

“I would say it's 90% certain that he'll be retired. Someone will have to come up with a very good reason for me not to retire him.”

The retirement will be the end of a glittering career for one of the sport’s most highly celebrated stars.

In December, Kauto Star made history by becoming the first horse to win the King George VI Chase five times.

He became the first horse ever to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2009 and competed in the race six times in his eight year career.

Earlier in the day, Countrywide Flame, trained by John Quinn, stunned the Cheltenham crowd with a 33-1 success in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

And Brindisi Breeze (8-1) defied strong favourite Boston Bob in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle for trainer Lucinda Russell.