Racing/Punchestown report: Moscow Flyer's first-day defeat reminded everyone at the Punchestown festival that expectations are always dangerous but Kicking King proved yesterday that there are few more stirring sights than a chaser facing up to those same expectations and meeting them in style.
The odds-on favourite duly added the Guinness Gold Cup to the Cheltenham crown and the King George title in a season that has already assured his place in racing's record books.
Add December's Grade One triumph in the Durkan Chase and Kicking King's winning streak comprises most of the top races worth winning over fences. Throw in his youth, the promise of even more improvement, and even the Ladbrokes decision to make him as short as 2 to 1 for a Cheltenham repeat in 2006 didn't seem that far off the mark.
However, that's the long-term future. Kicking King's trainer Tom Taaffe has the sort of quick mind that doesn't care for the fanciful but he admitted afterwards he was more nervous before yesterday's race than any of the other championship events already in the bag.
"I just wanted him to get this out of the way, come back safe, and then go out to grass for the summer so he could get the rewards for a fantastic season," he said.
Barry Geraghty let Kicking King stride on at the fourth last and a mistake at the next quickly saw Kingscliff drop away.
That left Rule Supreme as the only possible danger but even that hardy customer couldn't ruffle the smooth style of the winner who strode home to a huge reception.
"There is only one word to describe what he has done all year and that is class," said Taaffe. "He did exactly what you would expect a progressive Gold Cup horse to do. In fairness he should have done that but it's a sign of a great horse to do it."
Kicking King opened up this season with a win in the Lottery Agent Chase at Gowran and a return for that race next October is on the cards after the horse has enjoyed the summer.
Plans are less clear after that with the likelihood of a major new race at Haydock being announced in the next couple of weeks.
"There are a few carrots being dangled but the Gold Cup will still be the main aim, along with the King George," Taaffe added.
Rule Supreme is declared for today's Stayers Hurdle and Willie Mullins said afterwards: "We will see how he is in the morning. I'm not ruling him out. It's a major prize."
Mullins teamed up with Geraghty to land the following handicap chase with Jasmin D'Oudairies and then added the novice chase with the Ruby Walsh-ridden Livingstonebramble.
But the trainer was out of luck in the Paddy Power Champion Bumper as the favourite, Missed That, could only finish fourth to the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Refinement.
The Michael Tabor-owned mare bounded nine lengths clear of another English raider The Cool Guy to provide O'Neill with some compensation for a frustrating 2005.
"She's a real good little mare who has been unlucky," O'Neill said. "She will have to go hurdling now. She jumps okay but hasn't a lot of scope." Missed That's run was explained by Mullins who said: "He wasn't as wound up for this as he was at Cheltenham. We will have to decide if he goes hurdling or chasing next season."
Blazing Liss won a bumper here two years ago and has since added four hurdle races to her tally on the level. But yesterday's success in the mares hurdle was a probable last hurrah.
She was covered by Fleminsfirth two weeks ago and if she is in foal she will not race again.
"It's very satisfying to see her win like that," said trainer John Kiely after Davy Russell patiently allowed Blazing Liss recover from a stumble at the second last to beat Mags Benefit.
Levitator, the favourite for the opener, was found to have a respiratory infection but it was still a shock to see the 20 to 1 Strides Of Fire destroy the opposition by nine lengths for the Wexford trainer John Codd. It was a first Punchestown triumph for Codd since he rode Ogan Spa to win over the banks in 1986.
Another skinner looked on when the 25 to 1 shot, I'll Call You Back, went clear going to the last in the handicap hurdle. However, he took a crashing fall that allowed Stutter sweep through to give another Carberry, Philip, a festival triumph.
The disappointing favourite, Definate Spectacle, was found to be coughing afterwards.
A thrilling finish to the Champion Hunters Chase ended with General Montcalm just edging out Industrious by a neck under a powerful Niall Madden drive.
The second-day festival crowd reached the 20,162 mark, an increase of 1,403 on last year, and they generated record betting figures for Punchestown. The bookmaker turnover of €2,857,292 was a course record and was up from last year's €2,295,291. There was a course record for the Tote which reached €1,165,774 - up €139,633.
