Equestrian story by Brian Watters, Tue, 27 Dec 2005 14:24:00 GMT


Kicking King returned to his glory days with a fine win in the King George VI Chase at Sandown. King beat back a stiff last minute challenge from Monkerhostin to claim what is the second consecutive victory in the Grade One segment.

Kingscliff was unexpectedly out of form in the race and future betting odds will have to be rearranged for him. Jockey Barry Geraghty riding King was triumphant even as Impek and Monkerhostin tried their all to overtake King in the last three fences. King is now the favorite to regain the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March. King had won the Cup in 2004.

Geraghty feels that King has a good chance of repeating that performance, "He's just a class act, but they probably did not go that quick. I had hoped we'd be coming off a fast pace like in the Gold Cup and on good ground. That suits him better," he observed. "Monkerhostin did stay on well, but the ground is very dead. A better pace would have been ideal for me, but my horse can jump. He's something serious."

Kicking King's trainer Taaffe, who had faced a lot of questions after his charge failed to impress at Haydock said that he was pleased with the decision to allow him to race at Sandown, "The last day at Haydock the horse just wasn't up to his standard. I've always been straightforward about the excuses and I think it's been vindicated today," he said. "The battle plan now is to batten down the hatches altogether until March, and I'd hope he'd be a better horse again by then."

Meanwhile, the Christmas Hurdle was won by the Irish thoroughbred Feathard Lady, while Darkness won the Feltham Novices Chase.

The Results
King George VI Chase
1. Kicking King
2. Monkerhostin
3. Impek

Christmas Hurdle
1. Feathard Lady
2. Self Defense
3. Royal Shakespeare

Feltham Novices' Chase
1. Darkness
2. Zabenz
3. Bewleys Berry

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