King heads for Punchestown

Gold Cup hero Kicking King will miss a possible outing at Gowran this weekend to wait for Punchestown’s Daily Star Chase on October 20.

Kicking King started off his campaign last season by winning the National Lottery Agent Champion Chase at the County Kilkenny track, but a combination of unsuitable ground and the timing of the race have persuaded trainer Tom Taaffe to give it a miss this time around.

“I walked the course and considered that parts of it were good to firm,” Taaffe told the Racing Post.

“I don’t mind ending the season on that kind of going, but I don’t want to start off on it. I’ve since spoken to owner Conor Clarkson and we’re both happy to wait until Punchestown.

“We also took into account the gap between Kicking King’s first race of the season and the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Novembr 19.

“There would be six weeks between Gowran and the Betfair, whereas there’s only just over four weeks if we went for the Punchestown race, and I consider that gap much more suitable.

“Also, there should be no ifs and buts about the ground by October 20.”

Kicking King was last seen in action in late April, when he was an easy winner of the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup.