Cheltenham the aim for King
All roads now lead to Cheltenham for Kicking King after he bounced back to his brilliant best to record back-to-back victories in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown.
But he had to work hard as Monkerhostin ran a blinder and was catching the Irish star all the way up the run-in, with Impek keeping on to finish a further five lengths away in third.
William Hill offer a best price of 9-4 about Tom Taaffe’s pride and joy retaining his crown in the Totesport Gold Cup at the Festival in March.
Laid low since injury saw him defeated at Haydock last month, Taaffe slowly nursed the seven-year-old back to health.
And the trainer’s patience and hard work was rewarded in the £200,000 contest as Barry Geraghty’s mount swept into the lead after the second-last and stayed on gamely at odds of 11-8.
“I know that some people didn’t think I was being truthful when I gave excuses for what happened last time at Haydock,” said the trainer.
“But it was only a few days after the race that I realised just how sore he had been and how low he was. He was very sorry and off his food.
“I’ve been a bit cheeky rushing him back from Haydock to get him ready for today and I’d hope he’d be a better horse again come March.
“When you run at Haydock on tacky ground over three miles you need to give him a rest afterwards really.
“We just got him fresh. It took a good nine days before he came back with any spirit in him, to show any real well-being. He felt like any of us would have done if we had been running with two nails sticking into our foot.
“We waited until the last two bits of work to see if there was life there and if there wasn’t we wouldn’t have been here.
“I spoke to Conor (Clarkson, owner) and we both agreed if we weren’t 100 per cent happy we wouldn’t be coming here.
“The plan now is to batten down the hatches altogether until March. He definitely won’t run again until then.”
Ollie Magern had set a good early pace and remained in front until headed by Impek just after halfway.
However, Kicking King always had the principals well in sight and loomed large on the outside before taking the lead two from home, the field having bypassed the Pond Fence on account of the low-lying sun.
The winner had looked likely to go on for an easy success but all the while Tom Scudamore – a late deputy for the injured Richard Johnson – was creeping away behind the leaders on Monkerhostin (22-1).
And when the young rider produced Philip Hobbs’ charge on the outside over the final fence, suddenly the race was back on and it took a photo-finish to confirm the Irish raider had held on by a neck and registered his first victory since Punchestown in April.
Monkerhostin did at least have the consolation of taking the lead in the standings for the £250,000 British Horseracing Board Order of Merit standings.
But the race was a disaster for Kingscliff, who was sent off a well-backed second favourite having beaten Kicking King in the Betfair Chase last time out.
A bad mistake at the 10th fence with a circuit to go saw Tony Dobbin having to shake his mount right up to keep him in touch and from that point he never got back in the race, eventually being pulled up on the home turn.
Hobbs said a rematch with Kicking King in the Gold Cup could well now be on the cards.
“I wasn’t totally sure about the trip today, but from the way he finished you’d have to say that he might want even further,” he said.
Kingscliff’s hopes of being the first winner of the Betfair Million went as his jumping let him down.
“He was lobbing along beautifully, but when he put down at that early fence it ruined the race for us,” said Dobbin.
