Kicking King is none the worse for his exertions at Punchestown on Sunday and it's now all systems go for the King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day. That was the message from trainer Tom Taaffe yesterday as the Kempton race sponsors, bookmakers Stan James, cut the six-year-old from 6 to 1 to 4 to 1 for the prestigious prize.
The race was won twice by Taaffe's father, the late Pat, as a trainer with Captain Christy, and he also won it as a rider aboard the brilliant Arkle. Taaffe is confident Kicking King possesses all the necessary qualities which would enable him to get his name on to the roll of honour.
"He's had his breakfast this morning and, touch wood, he's absolutely perfect," the trainer reported of his John Durkan Memorial Chase winner. "He'll probably travel to Kempton on Christmas Eve as ideally I'd like him to be there and settled in on Christmas morning.
"Shane Moloney, my travelling head lad, will go over and look after him." After Kempton and a late winter holiday, Cheltenham and the totesport Gold Cup will probably be next on the agenda. But alternative entries are also likely to be made for Kicking King in the two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase and the new two-and-a-half-mile Daily Telegraph Chase.
"I think he will stay three and a quarter miles," Taaffe said of the Gold Cup plan. "But '05 or '06 - that is the question.
"What happens at Kempton is going to tell us more, but if the ground is genuine good ground then I'd love to run him in the Gold Cup.
"Beef Or Salmon has to prove himself again a bit after yesterday and Best Mate is there to be shot at in many ways. We'll make our minds up for sure nearer the time."
Taaffe also revealed that an undisclosed offer had already been made to purchase Kicking King. "I've had one call but the answer was 'have a nice day'," he said. "The horse's owner, Conor Clarkson, is a true jumps fan and it's your dream to go out and find a horse like this.
"I can understand people selling their horses when there are commercial considerations to make, but fortunately Conor's not short of a bob or two and Kicking King's not for sale."
Reflecting on Sunday's victory, he added: "If it had ended up being a muddling race I didn't want to see Beef Or Salmon showjumping his way round and winning without having to try, so I said to Barry (Geraghty) 'let's make him jump'.
"He is a very straightforward horse who had won from the front over hurdles before, so that wasn't a concern for us, although I really anticipated that Harbour Pilot (pulled up) might lead for longer than he did.
"The ground wouldn't have been ideal for him, either. He's got a really big, sweeping action and his best ground is good ground - 'Irish good'.
"He's only six and still filling out and maturing. It's not often that you see a horse who is as good-looking as he is.
"But you have to be pleased with the way he jumped and it's that which will stand him in particularly good stead at Kempton."
Jessica Harrington is still pondering her options ahead of a decision on whether the brilliant Moscow Flyer will run in the King George. After Moscow Flyer won a thrilling William Hill Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday, she refused to make a commitment as to whether her charge would take the step up to three miles or stay at two for an alternative Christmas engagement at Leopardstown.
"I've had some thoughts about Kempton, but there are still lots of decisions to make," she said yesterday. "One of the main factors will be the ground, as I wouldn't want it to be any softer than good.
"Funnily enough, if he'd got beaten on Saturday it would definitely have been an easier decision to make as we'd have nothing to lose by stepping up to three miles. But you could say that we still have nothing to lose anyway."
Moscow Flyer is the 9 to 2 second-favourite behind Kicking King in ante-post betting for the race with Stan James.
If the two-mile star is given the go-ahead for Kempton, it will provide a major dilemma for jockey Barry Geraghty, who also rides Kicking King.
But Harrington seemed confident yesterday that Geraghty would ride her horse. This is despite the fact that the jockey's official sponsor is Kicking King's owner Clarkson.
"I would say he'll stay with mine," she said. "I don't think he's likely to go jumping off unless we have a disagreement between now and Christmas."
Spot Thedifference will bid for a double over Cheltenham's unique cross-country course when he lines up for the Sporting Index Handicap Chase on Friday.
Enda Bolger's raider scored over Prestbury Park's 32 testing fences when flying late to nail Star Performance in an identical event last month. "He's in good nick and will leave tomorrow lunchtime," said Co Limerick-based Bolger. "There are many of the same horses that we met last time in the race again, so we are hopeful and J T (McNamara) will ride."
