On a day which saw Ruby Walsh double-up on The Folkes Choice and Devil’s Elbow, the Tony Mullins-trained Clarach booked her ticket to the Guinness Galway Hurdle when coasting to a comfortable victory over the Walsh-ridden Pires in the Adare Festival Weekend Rated Hurdle in Limerick yesterday.

Over a thousand Irish insurance brokers are set to descend on the Dublin convention centre for a meet and greet with Lloyds underwriters.

Four Commanders is set to tackle the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on April 9.

The opening four-mile National Hunt Chase was a disappointing race for the Irish, at least for most, the exception being veteran rider John Thomas McNamara.

BARRY GERAGHTY is in his fourth season as first jockey to Nicky Henderson and heads to Cheltenham with a powerful book of rides.

BOOKMAKERS are generally rather coy about admitting they have had a good day, or a good meeting, but this week a number accepted that Leopardstown at Christmas had been rather tasty for them.

THE strength of Davy Russell was the decisive factor in the success of Crash in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

LEADING national hunt jockey Barry Geraghty has called on the Government to increase betting taxes so that racing can become self-sufficient.

Prunella Dobbs suffered the highs and lows of jumps racing at Ballinrobe on Monday.

Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse is happy with the condition of the track as the countdown to the Festival nears its conclusion

CHINA Rock should make a successful chasing debut in the Gowran Park Racing Club 2010 Beginners Chase at Gowran Park today.

KICKING KING, winner of the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, can look forward to a long and happy retirement after connections called time on his glittering career yesterday.

Kicking King, winner of the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup for Tom Taaffe, has been retired.

Dual Grade One winner Mansony makes his seasonal reappearance in the Ladbrokes.com Fortria Chase at Navan on Sunday.

A relieved Mouse Morris reported War Of Attrition to be A1 following his comeback victory in the Star “Best For Racing Coverage” Chase at Punchestown on Thursday.

War Of Attrition ran out an easy winner over Kicking King as the former Cheltenham Gold Cup winners did battle in the Star "Best For Racing Coverage" Chase at Punchestow

THE clash of two former Cheltenham Gold Cup winners, War Of Attrition and Kicking King, and the eagerly awaited debut over fences of Trafford Lad holds promise of some smashing sport at Punchestown this afternoon.

Tom Taaffe is hoping 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King can get his season back on track in the Star “Best For Racing Coverage” Chase at Punchestown on Thursday.

Tom Taaffe reports Kicking King to be "absolutely fine" following his fall on his seasonal debut at Gowran Park yesterday.

Tom Taaffe is weighing up the options for Kicking King as the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero prepares to return to the track.

Neptune Collonges put up a tremendous performance to secure back-to-back successes in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup at the Irish venue.

Today is Guinness Gold Cup today at the Punchestown Festival in Co Kildare.

Neptune Collonges is on course to bid for back-to-back victories in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup later this month.

Tom Taaffe will soon increase Kicking King’s workload as he prepares the former Gold Cup winner for an appearance at the Punchestown Festival.

Bookmakers are already running scared of Royal County Star as Tony Martin’s hope is set to carry just 10st 4lb in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National on Monday.

Ballistraw will attempt to prove there was no fluke about his recent 33-1 win in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

Kicking King, winner of the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been ruled out of the blue-riband event on Friday week – and will instead be trained with Punchestown in mind.

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

Trainer Tom Taaffe has confirmed that Kicking King is now likely to compete in this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

TOM Taaffe identified a trapped nerve as a possible reason for Kicking King’s lacklustre show at Gowran last week.

Tom Taaffe identified a trapped nerve as a possible reason for Kicking King’s lacklustre show at Gowran last week.

KAUTO Star is once again an odds-on favourite to land back-to-back victories in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup following an upbeat bulletin from Paul Nicholls.

Tom Taaffe still hopes to run Kicking King in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup despite a disappointing performance at Gowran Park.

Kicking King was a disappointing third behind shock winner Ballistraw in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park.

KICKING KING, with positive noises emerging from Tom Taaffe regarding his well-being, has to get the nod to land the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.

Kicking King moves into phase two of his comeback programme in Saturday’s Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park, with trainer Tom Taaffe confident everything is going according to plan.

THERE’S little doubt tomorrow’s Grade 1 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown lacks quality, with the likes of Kauto Star, Denman, Exotic Dancer and Kicking King absent.

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.

KICKING King was reported to be in “super” form yesterday by trainer Tom Taaffe following his excellent comeback run at Gowran Park.

Kicking King has breathed new life into the Cheltenham Gold Cup market with his sparkling return to action at Gowran Park following a 759-day layoff.

KICKING KING may have only finished second behind Nickname in yesterday’s Normans Grove Chase at Gowran Park, but this was a spectacular comeback.

TIDAL BAY is now the clear favourite for the Cheltenham Arkle Trophy and at the top of the betting for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase after one of the Festival’s big Irish hopes, Glencove Marina, was ruled out for the season yesterday.

Paul Nicholls was impressed by Tom Taaffe’s training achievement to bring Kicking King back to health, although the gelding could be a major obstacle in the path of Kauto Star and Denman in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.