Tom Taaffe expects Kicking King to make a quick recovery from the foot injury he sustained in the betfair Chase at Haydock last Saturday.

Trainer Michael O’Brien is eyeing a big-race double with Essex after the five-year-old justified favouritism in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

Barry Geraghty was once again the star of the show at Leopardstown today as he took the two most valuable races of the afternoon courtesy of Essex and Newmill.