Tributes paid to Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King

A dual winner of the King George, Kicking King has died at the age of 25

FINEST HOUR: Kicking King and Barry Geraghty return to the winner's enclosure after the 2005  Cheltenham Gold Cup. Picture: Healy Racing.

Cheltenham Gold Cup and dual King George hero Kicking King has died at the age of 25, the Irish National Stud has announced.

Trained by Tom Taaffe, Kicking King enjoyed six Grade One wins over fences in all, with his brilliant victory in the 2005 Gold Cup sandwiched by back-to-back successes in the King George VI Chase at Kempton and Sandown respectively.