RACING News round-up: Best Mate was cut to 5 to 2 from 3 to 1 by Coral for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after Kicking King was ruled out of the race after returning an unsatisfactory scope yesterday morning.
Kicking King was a general 7 to 1 chance for the Cheltenham Festival showpiece after winning the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton last time.
However, trainer Tom Taaffe confirmed: "Kicking King will not run in the Gold Cup due to having not scoped well this morning."
Coral also cut Kingscliff to 11 to 2 from 6 to 1. Strong Flow is now 7 to 1 from 9 to 1 and Celestial Gold 10 to 1 from 14 to 1.
"It's a terrible shame for the connections but it is also a terrible blow for many punters who had backed Kicking King at all rates down from 40 to 1 at the start of the season to just 7 to 1," said Simon Clare, Coral spokesman.
Kicking King was also entered in the Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase over two miles, five furlongs and connections had not made a decision on which race he would tackle.
With Cheltenham now off the agenda, Taaffe is hopeful that Kicking King will make a quick recovery with connections already eyeing a chance of some consolation at the Punchestown Festival.
"We felt that we didn't have enough time to get him back on track before Cheltenham, so he won't go for the shorter race either," said Taaffe.
"Hopefully we will have him right again for the Punchestown Festival at the end of April. Nothing has been apparent with the horse, he just didn't scope well. The horse always tells you when to run and unfortunately he's saying not to. It's disappointing but these things happen and we hope to have him back for Punchestown."
Kicking King has notched three wins from his last four starts, with his defeat coming when second to Beef Or Salmon at Down Royal in November. Kicking King is the 4 to 1 favourite with Coral to win a second Stan James King George VI Chase later this year and they are also offering 14 to 1 against him winning the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"At least Kicking King will live to fight another day and he is already Coral's 4 to 1 ante-post favourite to retain his King George crown," added Clare.
Beef Or Salmon has recovered from the virus that affected his performance at Leopardstown last month, and trainer Michael Hourigan may give him a racecourse gallop later this week.
The chestnut gelding was found to have been suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection following his defeat at the hands on Rule Supreme in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and was treated with antibiotics.
However, the nine-year-old has resumed his preparation for the Gold Cup, which may include a trip to Limerick racecourse on Friday. "He is in good form, and looks like he has got over his problems," said Hourigan.
"He worked this morning, and worked fine. He is back into usual work, and I might give him a racecourse gallop this week, and then one the week after. He may go to Limerick on Friday, but I am not quite sure yet."
