Kicking King out of Gold Cup

Kicking King, winner of the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been ruled out of the blue-riband event on Friday week.

Tom Taaffe’s 10-year-old made an encouraging return when second to Nickname at Gowran Park in January, but disappointed when only third on his second run this year.

Connections were still keen to have a crack at the totesport-sponsored Gold Cup, but they have been forced to bypass Cheltenham after Kicking King failed to sparkle in a piece of work this morning.

Owner Conor Clarkson said: "Unfortunately after a work-out this this morning Tom Taaffe wasn't happy, and neither was Barry Geraghty, with his work.

“We’ve therefore no option but to say he will not be running in the Gold Cup.

“Obviously there just something a little amiss at the moment,” he told At The Races.

“His legs are fine but the quality would not be up to the standard of the Gold Cup.

“He’s just not firing on all cylinders.”