Racing: Kicking King made a fantastic return to action when finishing second to Nickname in the re-arranged Normans Grove Chase at Gowran Park. The 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was making his long-awaited comeback after 759 days on the sidelines.
Barry Geraghty set a steady pace on Tom Taaffe's chaser and held every chance in the straight but a mistake at the second-last probably cost him victory.
Hot favourite Nickname came late and fast under Ruby Walsh to claim another decent prize and win by one and a quarter lengths.
After such a lengthy absence and running in such desperate conditions, Geraghty set only a sensible pace, with both his rivals, Newmill and Nickname, content to sit in behind.
Walsh was the first to send out distress signals on the Martin Brassil-trained winner and Kicking King was still in front when he made his mistake two out.
Newmill was left in the lead but Geraghty, despite not resorting to the whip, managed to draw level at the last.
He had jumped well for most of the way and another fine leap sent him back to the front before Nickname, the 1-4 market leader, swooped fast and late to deny Kicking King's connections a fairytale victory.
William Hill cut Kicking King from 33-1 to 20-1 to claim back his Gold Cup crown, while Nickname was cut to 16-1 from 20s for the Queen Mother.
After such a lengthy absence and running in such desperate conditions, Geraghty set only a sensible pace, with both his rivals, Newmill and Nickname, content to sit in behind.
Walsh was the first to send out distress signals on the Martin Brassil-trained winner and Kicking King was still in front when he made his mistake two out.
Newmill was left in the lead but Geraghty, despite not resorting to the whip, managed to draw level at the last.
He had jumped well for most of the way and another fine leap sent him back to the front before Nickname, the 1-4 market leader, swooped fast and late to deny Kicking King's connections a fairytale victory.
William Hill cut Kicking King from 33-1 to 20-1 to claim back his Gold Cup crown, while Nickname was cut to 16-1 from 20s for the Queen Mother.
Taaffe said of his six-time Grade One winner, who has not run since winning his second King George at Sandown on St Stephen's Day 2005: "He ran a cracker for his first run back over two miles and one (furlong).
"He was a bit rusty and short of match practice and you could see that two out and at the first ditch.
"It shows how good a horse he is to come back. When you bring one back after that length (of time) it is a journey of a 1000 miles and it begins with one step.
"He might come back here for the Red Mills in three weeks, the Hennessy is in 17 days but that might be on the tight side. After the Red Mills it is four and a half weeks to the Gold Cup, which is fine.
"I wouldn't want to bottom him out over three miles in the Hennessy and he gets an 8lb allowance again in the Red Mills.
"The relief will be in two or three days but I'd be surprised if he had a problem as we have been very careful with him."
Of the winner, Brassil suggested he may step up in trip next time.
"He looked to be a bit careful at one or two fences, Ruby said he slipped going to the first ditch and it might have scared him a bit, but when he went up he was good," said Brassil.
"He might be a bit better going further now and might go for the Hennessy (February 10th) and we'll see how he handles three miles."