Kicking King out of Gold Cup

Racing:  Kicking King, winner of the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been ruled out of this year's event on Friday week.

Tom Taaffe's 10-year-old made an encouraging return when second to Nickname at Gowran Park in January, but disappointed when only third on his second run this year.

Connections were still keen to have a crack at the Gold Cup but they have been forced to withdraw after Kicking King failed to sparkle in a piece of work on this morning.

Owner Conor Clarkson said: "Unfortunately after a work-out this morning Tom Taaffe wasn't happy, and neither was Barry Geraghty, with his work.

"We've therefore no option but to say he will not be running in the Gold Cup.

"Obviously there just something a little amiss at the moment," he told At The Races. "His legs are fine but the quality would not be up to the standard of the Gold Cup.

"He's just not firing on all cylinders."

Meanwhile, Captain Cee Bee, Muirhead and Khyber Kim are still engaged in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The well-fancied trio appear among the list of 42 horses confirmed for the Festival curtain-raiser at the six-day stage.

Other well-fancied contenders still involved include Fiveforthree, Pigeon Island, Rippling Ring and Sentry Duty.

Ashkazar, Binocular and Five Dream bolster a strong four-year-old entry completed by Lemon Silk and Squadron.

There were no shock defections from the extended two-mile Grade One heat, but a number of those prominent in the ante-post markets have other options at the four-day Festival.