Kicking King to reappear next month

CHELTENHAM Gold Cup hero Kicking King will make his eagerly-awaited reappearance next month, with trainer Tom Taaffe considering possible races at Gowran Park and Punchestown.

Last season’s jumps superstar won five of his six starts and capped a terrific campaign when slamming his rivals in the Festival showpiece.

He kicked off last year with a smooth success in the Grade Two National Lottery Agent Champion Chase and could again head to the Gowran contest on October 8.

“The race he started off in last year is the target, subject to there being a proper ease in the ground for jumpers,” said Taaffe.

“If that didn’t happen he would go to Punchestown on October 20 for a new conditions chase and he would start off there instead.”

Following his two and a half length defeat of Rathgar Beau in the Gowran race last year, Taaffe’s charge went on to taste his only defeat of the season when going down to Beef Or Salmon in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal.

“He will have one prep run and then go to Haydock on November 19 for the Betfair Chase, although he will be entered at Down Royal and options will be kept open for unforeseen circumstances, such as the weather.

“We will cross all of the bridges as we come to them but, hopefully, he will come home after Haydock and have a bit of a break and then he’ll go back to Sandown for the King George. I will give him a proper break after that and get him prepared for March.”

Kicking King is as low as 2-1 to land back-to-back wins in the blue riband with his trainer happy at the way the gelding is progressing. “I am very happy with the way he has gone and he's very well,” added Taaffe.