Smith said: "We were very pleased with him. He went very well, jumped the fences beautifully and it's all systems go.

"We hope he's right back to top form and we wouldn't run him unless he was at his best, so we feel he's all set for Friday.

"It's all been due to a tremendous effort from the yard. Clifford Baker, as usual, has been absolutely brilliant with him as has the physio.

"Donna Blake and Rosie Loxton have been looking after him all the time and Paul Nicholls of course has been overseeing the whole operation and doing it very well."

It was feared Kauto Star would not attempt to regain his Gold Cup crown for a second time when it emerged he had suffered a schooling fall last month.

Nicholls was concerned about his condition after the tumble but after making massive strides in his recovery, Kauto Star was back on top form when enjoying a racecourse gallop after racing at Wincanton on Friday.

Connections were keen to see how he fared in another schooling session before confirming his participation, but after pleasing Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh, Kauto Star will try to add to his Cheltenham wins in 2007 and 2009.

Nicholls told his Betfair column: "We have given Kauto Star the green light for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after a very good schooling session on the grass.

"Ruby came over to school him and Kauto was awesome, just as I'd thought he would be.

"He jumped six fences - the plain fence and the open ditch three times each - and he was foot perfect and looked magnificent.

"Barring any mishaps in the next few days, Kauto lines up for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Friday.

"We are looking forward to it."