King-size chance for Irish to celebrate

14 April 2012

The Tom Taaffe-trained Kicking King can become only the second Irish challenger in 29 years to land the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Sunday and bring memories of the legendary Arkle flooding back.

It was in 1965 that National Hunt's most famous chaser, ridden by Tom's father, Pat Taaffe, won Boxing Day's prestigious prize. Taaffe senior went on to win the big race as a trainer with Captain Christy in 1974 and 1975, and Kicking King is a worthy favourite to continue the family tradition.

A top-class young hurdler two seasons ago, Kicking King built on his reputation when graduating to fences, finishing second to Well Chief in the Arkle Chase in March.

This season Kicking King has made further progress, culminating in his eyecatching 11-length defeat of Rathgar Beau over two and a half miles at Punchestown.

Critics will argue that the young Irish star is not guaranteed to stay three miles but he ran well enough over that trip at Down Royal when second to Beef Or Salmon in November and Kempton's sharp but level track can hardly be described as stamina-sapping under normal conditions.

As for the likely dangers, well, Paul Nicholls has helped liven up the race by adding the two-mile Champion chaser Azertyuiop to well-fancied stablemate Le Roi Miguel in a dual bid bid to keep the £200,000 prize at home.

Azertyuiop, runner-up to Moscow Flyer in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last time out, tackles three miles for the first time and there must be concerns about his ability to last out the trip. The furthest he has tried before is 2m4f when he failed to run up to his best. Le Roi Miguel undoubtedly has ability but his summer wind operation will have to have worked wonders as he looked held when he blunder three out before falling at the last behind Edredon Bleu in this race last year.

Kicking King will not be allowed the easy lead he had at Punchestown with Calling Brave around.

Nicky Henderson's eightyearold has been laid out for this race and put in a fine effort when, conceding 10lb to Colonel Frank, he was beaten less than two lengths over this trip at Sandown with Lord Sam behind.

However, I have yet to be convinced that Calling Brave's jumping will stand up to this searching test and Robert Alner's Kingscliff might be a better proposition as the stable is in rattling good form and he goes well when fresh.

Of the others, Therealbandit has never won going righthanded and will need to improve again to take a hand, while the ground has gone against 2003 winner Edredon Bleu.

Last year's runner-up, Tiutchev, has place claims again but will struggle to take first prize on his seasonal debut, and a more dangerous Martin Pipe raider could be Seebald.

On a strict line through Best Mate, whom he ran to a shorthead at Exeter in November, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman's horse is a lively outsider at 16-1.

But Kicking King to beat Kingscliff, with Calling Brave picking up third prize is my idea of the outcome.

The claims of Ollie Magern are there for all to see in the Feltham Novices Chase, yet I will still take him on with Trabolgan (1.00), who caught the eye at Lingfield last time.

Owned by Trevor Hemmings, Henderson's six-year-old had too much resolution for his rivals and jockey Mick Fitzgerald was suitably impressed. Ollie Magern ran a great race in the Hennessy for a novice but is opposable at 7-4.

Rooster Booster should make them all go in the Christmas Hurdle as Philip Hobbs goes down the same route as last year, but Harchibald (1.35) is hard to oppose.

His recent defeat of Inglis Drever in Newcastle's Fighting Fifth Hurdle has seen Noel Meade's five-yearold justly promoted to favouritsm for the Champion Hurdle in March.

King George 1-2-3

1 . Kicking King (nap)
2. . . . . . . . . Kingscliff
3. . . . . . Calling Brave

Boxing Day TV tips

Kempton: 1.00 Trabolgan; 1.35 Harchibald; 2.10 Kicking King (nap); 2.45 Kim Fontenail. Wetherby: 1.15 Lord Transcend (nb).

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King-size chance for Irish to celebrate

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