Racing Digest: Kicking King, winner of the 2005 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been ruled out for the season.
Tom Taaffe's eight-year-old has been sidelined since sustaining a tendon injury when winning the King George VI Chase at Sandown last Christmas. Taaffe confirmed the six-time Grade One winner has aggravated the problem in training and will not be seen this term. He said: "He is going to miss the rest of the season. We will take a view over the summer months regarding his racing career for the future."
Kicking King was a 4 to 1 chance for the Gold Cup with Ladbrokes and his removal from ante-post lists leaves Kauto Star as the 11 to 4 favourite with War Of Attrition at 7 to 2.
Beef Or Salmon will warm up for the Lexus Chase over Christmas with a spin over timber in the Irish Racing Yearbook Hurdle at Fairyhouse next Saturday. The nine-times Grade One winner has landed the Leopardstown feature three times and trainer Michael Hourigan is hoping for a fourth victory on December 28th.
