Kings clash at Irish Festival

Return of the Kings is the catchline for day two of the Punchestown Festival.

The Gold Cup hero Kicking King is bound to be a hot favourite for the £160,000 Guinness Gold Cup, but Robert Alner is hoping Kingscliff can make up for his late withdrawal from the Cheltenham showpiece.

Kingscliff was favourite for the Gold Cup when Alner decided to pull him out after a poor final gallop, but Alner is happy that a six-week break has had the desired effect.

"It was a sickener to miss Cheltenham, and it's pure conjecture as to what might have happened had he run there, but tomorrow will answer a few questions," he said. "He's travelled really well and eaten up nicely, so everything is set fair for what should be a great race."

Tom Taaffe is equally happy with Kicking King after some early concerns that the ground might dry out.

He said: "Everything has been geared to this since Cheltenham and he seems in super form."