King kicks off with easy win

KICKING KING made a perfect start to his season by claiming the Grade Two National Lottery Agent Champion Chase at Gowran Park yesterday.

Tom Taaffe’s six-year-old, narrowly beaten by Well Chief in the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham last season, jumped well throughout and recorded a smooth success.

Barry Geraghty settled the 11-4 shot in third place as Cloudy Bays and Alcapone cut out the early running in the two and a half mile contest.

Kicking King began to make his move just over a mile out and a solid jump at the third-last put his head in front as Cloudy Bays faded out of contention.

Although Rathgar Beau tried to challenge, Geraghty had plenty left and put Kicking King straight for the last two fences before cruising home by two and a half lengths.

Rathgar Beau, the 9-4 favourite, claimed second, with Strong Run staying on for third.

“I’m more than pleased with that. He travelled well and jumped particularly well. I loved the toe he showed after the third-last,” said Taaffe.

“The Jim Nicholson Chase at Down Royal on November 6 and the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown on December 5 are options for him. We will see nearer the time.”

Geraghty was delighted with Kicking King’s performance and believes stepping up in trip again would not be too much of a problem.

“He’s a decent horse, he gave me a good feel,” he told At The Races. “He’s always been a very good jumper but today he was very, very good.

“I wouldn’t think three miles would be a problem. He’s got a lot of pace and another year under his belt, so hopefully he could be very good.”

The rest of the meeting belonged to champion-jockey Paul Carberry who completed a tremendous treble on Riverboatman, Athlumney Lad and Sir Oj.

Carberry sat tight and refused to panic as Max Scal stretched into a long lead in the Kilford Arms 3-Y-0 Hurdle before bringing joint favourite Riverboatman through to beat Tipper Road.

Trained by Frances Crowley, Riverboatman was following-up a maiden win at Tipperary and will be aimed at the top juvenile events over the coming months, including a trip to Fairyhouse before having a tilt at the Dennys Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Carberry's other winners provided his boss Noel Meade with a double, Athlumney Lad land a tidy gamble (7/2 - 9/4 on course) in the Friends Of Gowran Handicap Hurdle.

Athlumney Lad, a versatile five-year-old, came from well off the pace to lead between the last two flights for a comfortable win over Favourite Son and is likely to go for a valuable handicap hurdle at Down Royal next month.

The Brian Keenan-owned Sir Oj, off the track since winning his maiden hurdle at Killarney in May, completed Carberry's treble in the Lord Bagenal Beginners Chase, making most of the running and having the measure of favourite Strike Back when that rival crashed out at the second last fence.