Punchestown: Former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King is back to his old self, according to trainer Tom Taaffe, who is eager to see him run in tomorrow's Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup.
The 10-year-old returned from a 759-day lay-off earlier in the season to run a blinder at Gowran Park when finishing second to Nickname.
Hopes were high that Conor Clarkson's gelding had retained all his ability, however he was decidedly lacklustre on his next start in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran a month later.
Taaffe decided against taking his charge to Cheltenham in a bid to regain his crown as he believed he was not giving the right signals but that doubt has now evaporated as he looks to win the Punchestown Grade One event for a second time.
"We are very happy with him, he's showing us all his old sparkle again," reported Taaffe. "We just couldn't get the sparkle in time for Cheltenham, I probably just tried to cram a bit too much into him after his comeback and it didn't happen.
"He's giving us all the right vibes now though and I'm very much looking forward to running him."