Kicking King

Gareth, I backed KK when he won the Gold Cup, and in his 2nd Gold Cup netting about £1k.

I am a fan, and really hope he comes back to his former glories as it will add serious spice to an already tantalising Gold Cup.

My fear, as aluuded to in my question to The Brigadier is will the dreaded bounce factor kick in?

I have admired Nickname for some time too (also showing a decent profit), and the other week considered his QM credentials after a number of threads debated the merits of Twist Magic following the VC.

However when I looked at the horses he had beaten last season the collateral form lines are quite weak.

He can win Grade 2s and even Grade 1s for fun in Ireland, but how much strength is there in depth on the Emerald Isle?

It is too early to draw any conclusions, but thank god KK is back and in one piece.

And credit too to Tom Taaffe on a splendid training performance.
 
Fingers crossed Kicking King walks out sound tomorrow morning. A great performance by all the connections to get him back on the track again. :clap:
 
I was at Gowran and after the race public and press alike were only interested in Kicking king.I am a big Nickname fan and after the race my initial reaction was that explains why he didn't travel to Ascot-two possibilities he isn't the same horse as last season or he needs a step up to 3 miles.Wasn't an ideal prep for the Hennessy.
 
Nickname looks as though he's just a bit lazy to my eyes. At Leopardstown he was one of the very first to come under pressure but stayed on best of all and it was a similar story today.

I wondered if they might fancy a crack at against Kauto Star in the Ascot Chase?
 
Bugger - I wish I could have seen the race. I went to watch it but most of the screens at Warwick only had Turf TV on. Without resorting to too much name dropping, I learnt the result from one of Lord H's infamous mates who nicked into one of the marquees to watch it! Where I was I ended up watching the replay of the 1410 at Warwick around 16 times amidst much conversation (and banter!) over how each nag ran....
 
I too think KK seemed very ring rusty and so in a way did Nickname, though I think he probably needs further now, as does KK of course. Nickname is a real heavy ground specialist anyway, so it always pays to pick the race to back him - trouble is when he's got his conditions he's odds on!

It amused me today the way he went he went to win his race - "Oh alright then, if I must!" - and he pulled out that bit needed in the last few yards. Hope it didn't take too much out of KK as it was soft enough for him wasn't it? I think Taafe can be relied on not to overface him too soon. Great training performance, seconded!
 
I think Taaffe will be chuffed to bits with that although his jumping was not great. He showed plenty of energy as it looked coming out of the back striaght like he might be done for foot but he kept going. On that performance you would have to think the step up to three and he should be bang there at Cheltenham with a clear round. It is a triumph just to get him back. Well done Tom, I hope his legs are ok in the morning.
 
Uncle Goober, well said about the typical Geraghty mistake two out.

For me this guy has for a long time had a tendency to deck top horses. He has done it this season on Kazal and I really think there is a mental block with him - which probably explains the cockiness - this usually conceals a deep seated insecurity about one's own ability!
 
By Martin Kelly, PA Sport

Tom Taaffe could hardly conceal his delight with Kicking King today as the dust settles on his remarkable return to action last Thursday.

The 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero had not run since his second win in the King George on Boxing Day of that year, and turned in a stellar performance in narrowly failing to hold the smart Nickname in the Normans Grove Chase at Gowran.

"He's absolutely perfect after the race and there have been no problems, thank goodness," said Taaffe.

"I am inclined to go to the Red Mills with him (back at Gowran on February 16). He is terribly well and trotted this morning and he is in fantastic shape. He is 100%.

"He has been there, won a Gold Cup and got the T-shirt. People say they don't come back but if we can keep him one piece we will see what they are then saying the morning after the Gold Cup."

Kicking King is as short as 12-1 in places for a second win in the blue riband, and Taaffe sees red-hot favourite and defending champion Kauto Star as the main stumbling block.

He said: "I'd say the class horse is Kauto Star and you need to go no further than him. Denman won a SunAlliance and he stays and it will probably have to be like a bog to bring him into the picture, he doesn't have the class of Kauto Star."
 
Step two on the road to recover on Saturday. Ground is currently soft but there is a dry and sunny forecast for the week.

Facing the likes of Justified, Knight Legend, Hi Cloy, Forget The Past, Foreman, One Cool Cookie etc. 18 entered.
 
Form of the Norman's Grove looking decidedly suspect.

Has the slimmest of chances of getting placed at Cheltenham but even that is very doubtful.

A past number I'm afraid.
 
7-4 with Cashmans for the Red Mills at the moment.Unless they know something we don't that looks a fair price to me.
 
13/8 now.

I suppose the dreaded "bounce" factor has to be a concern. However, given the huge weight concession he enjoys, he is a decent betting proposition I think.
 
I don't know the actual stats for the "bounce" theory, although some people have argued that it is far less common among the higher class horses. Does anyone on here know the stats?
 
Hi Cloy 11,10
Justified 11,10
One Cool Cookie Doubtful
Knight Legend 11,06
Ballistraw 11,03
Kicking King 11,03
 
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