Kingscliff on target for Punchestown
Alner’s lightly-raced eight-year-old was a staying-on second to the subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup hero in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, going down by two and half lengths.
But he missed his chance to gain revenge in the blue riband when he was withdrawn just days before following a disappointing final gallop.
“Kicking King is the best horse results-wise and we have every respect for him but we’re looking forward to next week,” said Alner.
“We felt perhaps in the King George that if the race had been at Cheltenham and a bit longer we would have had a chance.
“Kempton’s a very flat, fast track and our horse was running on at the end, although, having said that, Kicking King made a horrendous blunder at the last.
“We’ll hopefully give Kicking King a good run for his money and our horse has had no racing this season.
“The owner has always had an ambition to have a horse good enough to take over to Punchestown. I think he has now so we’ll give it a go and have a bit of ‘craic’ whatever.”
Kingscliff has landed four of his six starts, finishing runner-up on the other two occasions, while his big rival has won 10 of his 19, including his last three, which have all come at Grade One level.
Kicking King’s trainer Tom Taaffe also confirmed his impressive five-length winner of the Gold Cup on course for next Wednesday’s showdown.
“Next week is very much the plan,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier with the horse and am looking forward to the race.”
Trainer Willie Mullins, meanwhile, has not ruled out a return to fences for Rule Supreme, who landed the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February.
However, his two subsequent outings have come over hurdles, finishing third in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham before unseating Ruby Walsh in a bizarre incident at Aintree.
If skipping the Guinness Chase, the nine-year-old would instead go for the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers’ Hurdle the following day.
“We won’t make a decision until very near the day as to which race he goes for,” said Mullins.
“He’ll be confirmed in both races when we see the way they are shaping up. The ground would be another big factor in our decision as well.”
Tony McCoy suffered a ‘Clan Royal moment’ at Towcester last night as Paul Nicholls’ hopes of clawing back a few pounds in the trainers’ title race hit the buffers.
Nicholls, who started the day £31,232 behind champion Martin Pipe, had just the one runner in Oracle Des Mottes in the opening Free Tips@gg.com Beginners’ Chase.
However, the 5-2 shot was carried out by a loose horse approaching the 11th fence in the two and three quarter mile contest, with McCoy unable to do anything about it.
The champion jockey famously suffered a similar indignity when leading the Grand National field on Clan Royal at Aintree just 10 days ago.
Oracle Des Mottes had been going well and held a narrow advantage at the time of the incident. The race was won by 28-1 shot Camdenation.
