Kicking King booked his place in the line-up for the Supreme Novices Hurdle when landing the Grade 2 Byrne Group Novice Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.
The Tom Taaffe-trained gelding, 20/1 (from 40`s) for the Cheltenham Festival opener with Cashmans, was prominent throughout and kept on well in the straight under Barry Geraghty to beat Central House by four lengths.
Woodys Deep Ocean held every chance the same distance back in third, but Masteroffoxhounds was pulled up before the last and found to be lame afterwards on his off fore.
`I`m very pleased that he`s done that on ground he wouldn`t really like. He jumped quicker today when he had to, and I like the way he galloped all the way to the line. He`ll go straight to Cheltenham now,` said Taaffe.
Alan Magee
