King for a day

Kicking King lapped up the attention this morning as the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was given a rapturous welcome at his County Kildare base.

The seven-year-old put the famous family name of Taaffe back in the spotlight after his magnificent display in the blue riband on Friday.

Most of the local village, including dozens of children, were on hand as trainer Tom Taaffe led the Conor Clarkson-owned gelding out himself to meet his adoring public.

The bay gelding looked in fantastic shape and hardly turned a hair as he posed for picture after picture, and the Gold Cup itself was passed around for all to see.

Taaffe’s young son Pat, named after his grandfather, who will be forever known as the rider of the legendary Arkle, was born on the day Kicking King won his bumper at Leopardstown in January 2002.

And he must have brought a tear to the eye of many today as he sat proudly aboard the Gold Cup winner.

Taaffe feels his stable star has improved for the run and said: “He looks better than he did before the Gold Cup and he’s really thriving.”

It is well documented now that a couple of weeks beforehand it looked as if Kicking King would miss his big day, as he was found to have an infection.

But make it he did and Taaffe added: “He is a very special horse and during the race I was able to relax because when he passed the stands for the first time, I knew then that the problems the horse had had wasn’t going to affect him in the race.

“I knew he was going to run his race.”

A party will be held this evening “for close family and friends” which will number around 150, and another big party is planned for Punchestown next month, where Kicking King will bid to cap his golden season with victory in the Heineken Gold Cup.

The horse later paraded at the Curragh, in company with Smurfit Champion Hurdle hero Hardy Eustace and Queen Mother Champion Chase victor, Moscow Flyer.

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O’Donoghue T.D was present at the track, which played host to the opening day of the Irish Flat season.

He said: “It is a pleasure to welcome these champions, who have captured the top three prizes at England’s premier National Hunt racing event.

“Our equine heroes have human heroes behind them and I warmly congratulate trainers Dessie Hughes (Hardy Eustace), Jessica Harrington (Moscow Flyer) and Tom Taaffe, and jockeys Conor O Dwyer (Hardy Eustace) and Barry Geraghty (Moscow Flyer and Kicking King) for their remarkable success.

“They, among many others, have done Irish racing proud and clearly demonstrate that the sport is in first class condition at all levels.”

totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup 2006, sponsors betting: 11-4 Kicking King, 6-1 Best Mate, 16-1 Kingscliff, Trabolgan, Ollie Magern, 20-1 bar.