Gold Cup duo on the mark again

Kicking King's colours were carried to another success at Thurles on Thursday where Kings Advocate ran out the comfortable winner of the Cashel Maiden Hurdle for Tom Taaffe jockey Barry Geraghty.

Kicking King's colours were carried to another success at Thurles today where Kings Advocate ran out the comfortable four length winner of the Cashel Maiden Hurdle for trainer Tom Taaffe and jockey Barry Geraghty.

The 2/1 favourite tracked the leaders before making steady progress to lead before the final flight, eventually easing clear of front running Johnjoes Boy.

Afterwards a delighted Taaffe mentioned: "Things are flying for us at the moment and it was great to win over hurdles with this horse."

He added: "He doesn't jump hurdles well but will definitely be better over fences. Jumping and staying is his game and maybe he just wants more runs to help him settle."

Taaffe reported Kicking King "on course for the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown next month. 'He's actually heavier now than he was before he went to Cheltenham and he's in great form."

Most valuable event on the card was the €15,000 Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle which went to Joe Crowley's Glenbane Lady.

The winner challenged Lord Graney from the second last, eventually responding well to Paddy Flood's efforts to lead on the line, winning by the narrowest of margins.

The Ballynonty Novice Hurdle went to Gerry Cully's Arc En Ciel, under the talented Davy Condon.

Afterwards Cully reported "Davy said he'd probably stay further than two miles and he'll probably go for a novice hurdle at Navan on Saturday week."

The opening mile maiden was run in front of a predictably small crowd, with Ken Condon's Fuerta Ventura providing jockey Declan McDonogh with his third success of the new season.