Kicking King back in frame for Cheltenham
Eight days ago his trainer, Tom Taaffe, ruled him out of the Festival, after the horse scoped dirty following a gallop.
Partnered by Shane McGovern, he was less than impressive when working over two miles at Punchestown.
He was subsequently found to have an infection and went on a seven-day course of antibiotics. Yesterday, however, Taaffe reported: “The wheels are back on the wagon.”
He will make a full statement tomorrow.
Should Taaffe decide he can now prepare Kicking King for Cheltenham, it remains to be seen if he will subject him to the rigours of three and a quarter miles plus in the Gold Cup.
The alternative, of course, would be a new race at the Festival, the two miles and five furlongs much less competitive Daily Telegraph ’Chase.
Kicking King took high order in the Gold Cup market when beating Kingscliff and Azertyuiop in the King George at Kempton at Christmas.
Meanwhile, Taaffe believes Emotional Moment has sound each-way claims in the Ladbroke World Hurdle.
The eight-year-old will be tackling prolific winner Baracouda in the Grade One event but Taaffe reports his charge to be fighting fit.
Emotional Moment failed to make any real impact when tried over fences last year but he has been in fine form since returning to the smaller obstacles.
The Religiously gelding has been an impressive winner of his last three starts in Grade Two and Three company and Taaffe expects him to feature at Cheltenham. “Emotional Moment has progressed all year. He has done very well in his last three runs,” said Taaffe.
“He’s terribly well here at home. I think he’s in there with a very good sporting chance of being in the first three. We’re very happy all round with him.”
Taaffe has ruled Kings Advocate out of his engagements in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle and the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle but he will still have some good runners in the supporting events.
He said: “Tumbling Dice will run in the Coral Cup. We’re happy with him. Beautiful Vision definitely runs in the bumper.
“There will be 24 runners in the bumper on the day so you will have 23 to beat,” said Taaffe.
“I saw the workouts in Leopardstown the other day and Missed That appeared to work very well, but Cheltenham is Cheltenham and you’ve got to get there and it’s not always the best horse on the day that wins it.”
