Taaffe happy with former champ’s progress

KICKING King moves into phase two of his comeback programme in Saturday’s Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park, with trainer Tom Taaffe confident everything is going according to plan.

After more than two years away from the action, the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner made his first appearance since his victory in the King George in the Normans Grove Chase, also at Gowran.

Kicking King ran brilliantly under the circumstances, finishing second to Nickname and just ahead of Newmill over an inadequate two-mile trip on heavy ground.

The going in Kilkenny will be similar again but Taaffe said: “He has run in ground like that before and it’s not something we can do anything about as I need to get another run into him (before Cheltenham).

“He keeps moving along the right lines in his preparation and I am happy with how his progress is going.

“He’s in great form and jumped a few fences in the week. He’s all set for the next step on Saturday.”