Kicking King poised for Christmas return at Leopardstown

TOM TAAFFE has reported 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King to be recovering well from the tendon injury he sustained when beating Monkerhostin in last year’s King George VI Chase.

That was the eight-year-old’s second victory in the Christmas showpiece event but he will not be trying for a hat-trick this term.

Taaffe has instead earmarked a small conditions race over a trip just further than two miles at Leopardstown on the same day on what will hopefully be his first step on the ladder to reclaiming his Cheltenham crown.