The Cheltenham Gold Cup holder Kicking King was beaten on his first start of the season at Punchestown yesterday but as War Of Attrition's connections celebrated there wasn't exactly a gloomy fog hanging over the runner-up's camp either. Brian O'Connor reports from Punchestown
There were three lengths between the pair at the finish of the Daily Star Chase, with just a short head to Pizarro in third, but even the sponsors would be pushing to produce some "shocker" headlines from the post-race autopsies.
"Absolutely thrilled . . . delighted . . . run a fantastic race," were only some of the satisfied comments coming from Kicking King's trainer Tom Taaffe.
"He just got tired. It's his first run of the season and while I would love to have won, I am still extremely happy with him."
In terms of contentment the only competition appeared to come from War Of Attrition's owner, the Ryanair supremo Michael O'Leary, who busily plugged the third day Cheltenham festival feature in March which just happens to be called the Ryanair Chase.
But the happiest man of all was undoubtedly Mouse Morris who saw his faith in War Of Attrition vindicated with the biggest scalp of all in just his first start out of novice class.
Try as he might, the trainer couldn't totally downplay what he had just seen and although War Of Attrition is now a 3 to 1 favourite for that Ryanair Chase, he is also as low as 10 to 1 with Paddy Power for the Gold Cup itself.
"We will leave our options open," grinned Morris who also left open the possibility of War Of Attrition tackling three miles for the first time in the James Nicholson Chase at Down Royal next month.
"I always said he was a good horse and today is probably the first day you have all seen it too."
That Down Royal race in 2004 was the last time Kicking King had tasted defeat before yesterday and his next target will be a big money one in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in four weeks' time.
A £1 million bonus is waiting for the horse that can win that race in addition to the King George and the Gold Cup and Taaffe is confident Kicking King will be at his peak.
"I would rather he got beat here than at Haydock, or in the King George, or in March. Coming here I wasn't sure where we stood with him but he'll be spot on for that. He just ran a bit free and he wasn't fit enough to get away with it," Taaffe said.
"You also have to remember the winner is a damn good horse," added Taaffe who revealed he got within 20 minutes of closing a sale for the young War Of Attrition before O'Leary struck first.
"It's a pity," Taaffe grinned. "There wouldn't have been a clash!"
Kicking King eased slightly to a general 5 to 2 favourite for the Gold Cup and is only 10 to 1 with Cashmans to bring off the lucrative treble.
There had been another reverse for Taaffe in the opening maiden hurdle where the favourite, Merdeka, couldn't land a blow and was unplaced behind the winner Mounthenry. That one's jockey Andrew McNamara later doubled up on the handicap chase topweight Charging who paid almost 56 to 1 on the Tote and contributed to a €30,083 jackpot carryover.
Kicking King's rider Barry Geraghty was also in double form, scoring with Purple Shuffle in the handicap hurdle and on Dermot Weld's Queen Astrid who justified favouritism in the Listed mares hurdle.
"She will run next in the Leopardstown November Handicap and then we will think about possibly going chasing with her. The way she jumps hurdles she could make a superb chaser," said Weld who will be in international mode at the weekend.
"It's fairly cold in Canada but Grey Swallow has settled in well for Sunday's race (Canadian International)," Weld reported.
"Vinnie Roe will have his first serious piece of work on Friday morning in Australia and is doing well ahead of the Melbourne Cup."
The War Of Attrition colours were on the newcomer Colonel Arthur in the bumper but although he started favourite he faded out of the places behind the impressive winner, Sher Why Not.
