Kicking King’s comeback second thrills connections
Off the track since winning his second King George at Sandown in December of 2005, the ten-year-old and former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner stripped fit and well and, all credit to Tom Taaffe, looked as if he had never been away.
He set off in front for Barry Geraghty and his jumping was fast and accurate. The only mistake Kicking King made was when ploughing through the penultimate obstacle and, you could realistically argue, would have won but for that.
He seemed to be getting the best of the battle with Newmill and long odds-on shot Nickname was struggling badly to get in a blow.
But the error changed everything and Ruby Walsh got a powerful late surge from Nickname to finally master Kicking King in the final hundred yards.
“I’d imagine he would have won”, said Geraghty, and you just knew he was playing down the significance of that blunder. “We’ve lost the battle, but might win the war!”
Taaffe was ecstatic and fully entitled to be. “He’s shown what a good horse he is” said the trainer.
“A journey of a thousand miles had to start with one step and this was it. We will know in two or three days how he is, but I think he will be alright.
“After his mistake, I was thrilled with the manner in which he jumped the last and he ran all the way to the line.
“I was dead happy with the way the horse blew afterwards, Barry said he blew up a couple of times in the race.”
Taaffe is now favouring returning to Gowran Park for the Red Mills Chase, rather than challenging for the Hennessy at Leopardstown.
“It is just 17 days to the Hennessy and that’s tight”, said Taaffe. “I don’t know if I want to bottom him out over three miles.
“The Red Mills is 23 days away and over two and a half. Just like today, he will also get an 8lbs allowance. It’s onwards and upwards and I just want him spot-on for March 15 (Gold Cup day)”
Kicking King was cheered to the echo as he made his way back to the number two berth and Nickname was almost forgotten in the process.
Martin Brassil said of Nickname: “Looking at that he could want further and we might let him take his chance in the Hennessy.”
Cashmans slashed Kicking King from 33-1 to 20’s for the Gold Cup. Boylesports offered 14-1, from 25-1, and he’s a 16-1 shot with Ladbrokes.
Ruby Walsh put up 3lbs overweight to partner Splurge in the S and N Auctioneers’ Handicap Hurdle, but produced a magical piece of riding to land him a head winner.
Splurge, backed from 3-1 to 2-1 favourite, appeared to be well out of his ground for much of the contest, but those who waded in had no need to worry.
Gradually, he was worked into the race to grab the advantage at the final flight and then Walsh drove him all the way to the line to hold Motaraqeb.
“He had to carry a bit of overweight, but it’s worth it when you have Ruby”, remarked Jim Nash, assistant to trainer, John Coleman.
“He loves that ground and seems to be improving. I’d say he nearly has enough done now and, unless the ground comes up soft at one of the Festivals, like Fairyhouse or Punchestown, he probably won’t be seen again this season.”
Walsh completed a tremendous treble, narrowing the gap in the title race to eight behind Davy Russell, when J’y Vole produced a magnificent display in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice Chase.
Jumping superbly, she made every yard of the running to spreadeagle this field, scoring unextended by a distance.
Trainer, Willie Mullins, still reeling from the news that Glencove Marina is out for at least a year with a tendon injury, was in much more upbeat mood.
“She jumps well and I couldn’t be happier with her”, said Mullins. “She will now go for the Moriarty Chase (replacing Glencove Marina) at Leopardstown.”
Michael Bowe saddled the first two in the Grade 3 Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle, but the wrong way round in the opinion of most punters!
His 14-1 shot Earth Magic proved much too strong for market-leader, Sweet Kiln, who confirmed that going right-handed is not her ideal way of travelling.
The winner was taken to the front well before the straight by Andrew McNamara and was always holding too may guns in the closing stages for his half-sister.
“I am in a state of shock, I didn’t expect them to finish that way” , revealed Bowe. “I had the Coral Cup (Cheltenham) in mind for Earth Magic, but that’s put an end to the plan.
“I’m regretting now not putting him in the Stayers’ Hurdle. I’m not disappointed with the mare, she is probably better going left-handed.”
Both Earth Magic and Sweet Kiln are likely to head for the Boyne Hurdle at Navan.
Gamble of the contest was Alexander Taipan, who tumbled down from an off-course price as high as 12-1 to 5-1. He was tracking the leaders, and apparently full of running, when falling five out.
Dermot Weld’s Prince Erik went off a well-backed favourite for the P J Foley Memorial Maiden Hurdle and duly obliged under a fine Paul Carberry drive.
Carberry powered the grey ahead at the final flight to beat the flattering Dani California going away by a snug two and a half lengths.
“I thought he might win, I was just concerned about the ground”, reported Weld. “He has a lot to learn, but that will give him confidence. We have no big notions about the horse.”
Willie Mullins, successful with the impressive J’v Vole, completed a double when the Fairyhouse winner Drive on Regardless sprinted clear over a furlong out to take the Bumper.
The five-year-old is owned by the Ten Grand Too Much Partnership, who comprise three Cork men, John O’Donoghue and Sean Ahern from Knockraha and Carrigtwohill’s Joe Buckley.
Barry Geraghty was on the mark when Designer Grey got the best of the battle with Ruby Walsh and Farmer Grant in the Ashkalani At Coolmurry Stud Carey’s Cottage Cup Handicap Chase.
