Taaffe cautious over King's Gold Cup bid

The young guns of the British and Irish chasing scene are lining up for a shot at Best Mate at Cheltenham in March.

But Tom Taaffe warned ante-post punters to bide their time before backing the exciting Kicking King after the entries for the Totesport Gold Cup were made public today.

Forty entries have been received for the climax of the first ever four-day Festival on 18 March, and Kicking King is as short a 7-1 to dethrone Best Mate after his thrilling defeat of Kingscliff in the King George VI Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

Best Mate's subsequent defeat by Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown has added to the feeling that the champion could prove vulnerable as he bids for a historic four-timer, but Taaffe is in no rush to commit his stable star to the most demanding chase in the calendar.

"Kicking King has been in great form since the King George, though I haven't done much with him, but I'm going to sit on the fence over his Cheltenham target," he said.

"I was very impressed with Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus, and Best Mate also ran a very good race on ground he wouldn't prefer, but a lot can happen between now and March and we want to weigh up all the opposition and the ground before we make a decision."

By contrast, connections of Strong Flow have their sights set firmly on the Gold Cup as last year's Hennessy Gold Cup winner prepares to return from injury over hurdles at Warwick on Saturday.

Owner Barry Marshall has backed the eight-year-old at 14-1 and 12-1 on the back of impressive recent homework, and Victor Chandler trimmed him to 8-1 after further support today.

"Strong Flow has been burning up the gallops and we couldn't be more pleased with him," said Marshall.

"We've given him all the time he needs and he hasn't been rushed in any respect."

Meanwhile, the stage is set for round four of the on-going battle between Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop after the two best two-mile chasers in training headed the entries for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Last year's Arkle Chase hero Well Chief is also entered for the 16 March showpiece, and bookmakers are offering 20-1 and bigger about all the other 16 entries.

Elsewhere, Nicky Henderson has reacted to his recent lean spell by revealing that he will shut his Lambourn yard down for 10 days after saddling three runners at Newbury on Wednesday.

The Seven Barrows handler is hoping a break will help revitalise his string ahead of the big spring meetings, but Kieren Fallon is in no need of a tonic after continuing his American sabbatical by partnering Angela's Love to an emphatic success in a $60,000 contest at Gulfstream Park last night.

Fallon, who got off the mark at the Florida track on Friday, is spending the winter riding in the US before returning to Britain in April to try to win back his title from Frankie Dettori.

Latest Totesport Gold Cup betting

(sponsors' odds): 3 Best Mate, 6 Beef Or Salmon, 7 Kicking King, Kingscliff, 9 Strong Flow, 16 bar.

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