King prepares to face War

Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Kicking King and War Of Attrition are set to renew their rivalry when they go head to head at Punchestown next week.

The pair, who won jump racing's blue riband event in 2005 and 2006 respectively, have been pencilled in for the Star 'Best For Racing Coverage' Chase on Thursday.

Trainer Tom Taaffe will be eager for Kicking King to get his season back on track after the 10-year-old fell on his return to action at Gowran Park earlier this month.

War Of Attrition meanwhile, has been out injured and not run since finishing third behind the Listener and Beef or Salmon in the Lexus chase in December 2006.

Trainer Mouse Morris however, is confident his nine-year old will be up to the challenge as the horse goes looking for his third win in the Grade Three contest.

His most notable victory in the two-and-three-quarter-mile race was a 2005 win over next week's challenger Kicking King.

Happy

"Everything is fine with him at the moment, touch-wood, but obviously he has been off the track for a long time," said Morris.

"I have been very happy with him at home but, obviously, he will come on for the run.

"He has won this race twice before but I am not looking any further than this at the moment as the main thing is just to try and get him back in one piece."

Thursday's race has attracted a total of 13 entries, with Noel Meade well represented by Afistfullofdollars, Ballyagran and Watson Lake.

Willie Mullins also saddles three, with Irish Invader, Davenport Democrat and Bothar Na all entered by the trainer.