Taaffe Outlines Attrition Fears

Tom Taaffe has nominated War Of Attrition as the main danger to Kicking King´s defence of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Taaffe´s seven-year-old will start back on the Festival trail in the Daily Star Chase at Punchestown on October 20 with the County Kildare handler believing his blue riband winner is better than ever.

However, he thinks the Mouse Morris-trained War Of Attrition, winner of the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase at Punchestown in April, could develop into a live Cheltenham Gold Cup hope.

'Kicking King´s a mature horse and has summered very well. This is the first time he has been a proper horse,' said Taaffe. 'It is all very exciting but we have to take one day at a time.

'It´s a difficult thing to win consecutive Gold Cups and even if he does stay right, he is there to be shot at.

'I can´t see any main Gold Cup contenders in England, but I say that observantly and carefully, not smugly.

'On the Irish side, if War Of Attrition develops along the right lines he could be a challenger but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge first.'

Kicking King was due to make his reappearance in the National Lottery Agent Champion Chase at Gowran this weekend but Taaffe has had to redirect his stable star to Punchestown due to the prevailing fast ground.

He is keen to get a race into the Old Vic gelding before his scheduled clash with Best Mate in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19.

'I am slightly concerned there are only showers forecast between now and the race, but in our favour the amount of daylight is decreasing so the moisture stays in the ground for longer and I´m sure the course will water if necessary,' he added.

'I would love Punchestown to be a decent race as there are only four weeks before Haydock but I have no doubt it will be a good race as there were only three runners at Gowran and I´m sure some of the horses who would have run there today may run.'

? PA Sport