Confident Taaffe banking on a kicking King George

TRAINER Tom Taaffe reports Kicking King to be “100 per cent” ahead of his big test in the Stan James King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day.

The six-year-old was the impressive winner of the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase last time out to earn his position at the top of the betting for the Kempton race, for which 13 stood their ground at yesterday’s final declaration stage.

“There should be loads of pace so we’d have no complaints. If they go a gallop I would be very happy,” Taaffe said.