Kicking King, winner of the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been ruled out of the blue-riband event on Friday week.

KICKING King is more likely to continue on the comeback trail in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran on February 16 than in the Irish Hennessy next weekend.

Kicking King is more likely to continue on the comeback trail in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran on February 16 than in the Irish Hennessy next weekend.

As the owner of Kicking King, Conor Clarkson has hit the heights of National Hunt racing, but the journey has been an eventful one and testament to the vicissitudes of the sport. Declan Colley hears the story from the horse owner’s mouth.

Beef Or Salmon and Kingscliff are vying for totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup favouritism following the shock news that Kicking King will miss the remainder of the season.

KICKING KING, the warm ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, will miss the race.

Kicking King has been ruled out of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after straining a tendon.

KICKING KING, the reigning King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup holder was yesterday named 2005 Horse of the Year at the annual Irish Horse Racing Awards ceremony.

Gold Cup hero Kicking King will miss a possible outing at Gowran this weekend to wait for Punchestown’s Daily Star Chase on October 20.

DANNY O’CONNELL’S Peripheral Vision, carrying the colours of Fermoy farmer Colman O’Flynn, stayed on dourly through the terrible surface to take the Caherconlish Mares Maiden Hurdle at Tralee yesterday.

FAIRYTALES are supposed to be the province of Hans Christian Andersen, but the Cheltenham Festival once again proved its ability yesterday to weave the most incredible stories together when Kicking King won the Gold Cup for Ireland.

THE legendary Taaffe family claimed yet another Cheltenham Gold Cup when Kicking King trounced his rivals at sun-drenched Prestbury Park yesterday.

Shamrock Rovers' future is once again in doubt after South Dublin County Council (SDCC) refused an application to extend planning permission for the club’s new home ground in Tallaght.

JESSICA HARRINGTON is still pondering her options ahead of a decision on whether the brilliant Moscow Flyer will run in the Stan James King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day.

Shamrock Rovers players will be playing for their futures at the club as new manager Roddy Collins runs the rule over his Hoops against St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park tonight (7pm).

Tonight's clash between Waterford United and Shamrock Rovers has been postponed due to flooding. It is provisionally rescheduled for Sunday at 2pm.

Shamrock Rovers have welcomed a new major shareholder to the board, the club has announced.