King George VI meeting - in pictures

Eager punters form long, snaking queues outside Kempton Park as they wait for the gates to open Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Kauto Star is the reason a lot of the racing fans are here Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

This is why there's so many fans here, they want to see if Kauto can enter the record books Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Fans admire the statue of the four-time winner Desert Orchid Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Another Kauto Star fan checks the form in the Racing Post Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Trainer Paul Nicholls watches the first race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

...but this smartly dressed lady can't bear to Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Bookies in the main stand are doing brisk business Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Barry Geraghty on Nadiya de la Vega pips Pepe Simo to win the Novices' Chase and gets his first win of the day Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Good threads, good position and a good pint Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

The huge crowd in the stand watch the runners and riders in the Novices' Hurdle go past. The race was won by Barry Geraghty on Chablais Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Tony McCoy drives Ski Sunday on to win the William Hill Handicap Hurdle Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Straining to see the runners come into the home straight Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Barry Geraghty on Polyfast (near) gets up to beat Safari Adventures and Cruchain in the Handicap Chase to claim his third win of the day Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Members of the Goat Racing syndicate which owns Forpadydeplasterer, who is running in the main race. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Binocular, with Tony McCoy on board, trail Overturn on the first circuit of the Christmas Hurdle before going on to win the race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Come on Kauto Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Another young fan lets everyone know who she'll be cheering for in the race as the fans around her take pictures of Kauto Star as he parades infront of the stands Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

...so the main attraction smiles for the cameras Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Tony McCoy looks nervous as he comes out to partner Kauto Star... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

...he gets some last minute advice from Dan Skelton, the assistant trainer to Paul Nicholls... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

...before going to his mount Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

And they're off. As the horses go down the straight on the first lap, Long Run (left) and Kauto Star jump a fence together Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Long Run has no problems going over the last and gallops home and passes the post 12 lengths clear of his stable companion Riverside Theatre Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Kauto Star, whose performance was as Paul Nicholls said "laboured" and he couldn't get going. He did however put in a final spurt to come back into it late in the race though it was too little too late. He could have taken second place but a blunder on the second last put paid to that hope and he, and McCoy, had to make do with third Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Punters applaud Kauto Star as he is led back to the winners enclosure Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

A dejected Tony McCoy with trainer Paul Nicholls (left) and owner Clive Smith after the race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

The trophy is handed over to Robert Whaley-Cohen, the owner of Long Run ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

...and then a delighted Sam Whaley-Cohen takes the trophy and celebrates his victory ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

...whilst his mount gets a well deserved drink of water Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer