Kicking King survives blunder and Santa to lift King George

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2004

LONDON (AFP) — A heart-stopping last fence blunder and an unscheduled appearance by Father Christmas were not enough to deny Kicking King victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

Sent off as the 3-1 favourite Kicking King looked to have the three mile mid-season showpiece wrapped up when he began to pull clear seven fences from the finish.

Leading into the straight in front of Kempton's traditional bumper Boxing day crowd Barry Geraghty's mount began to tire aproaching the last where he did his best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Trained by Tom Taaffe, whose father Pat rode the mighty Arkle, Kicking King ploughed through the fence, but somehow the partnership remained intact.

Yet there was still one further obstacle to...