GOLDEN KING A TRUE STAR

IT seems bizarre to say it now but Kicking King, who died yesterday at the age of 25, restored Irish pride in the 2005 Gold Cup.

- MELISSA JONES

In the absence of three-time legend Best Mate, Tom Taaffe's favourite took the steeplechasing crown.

The raiding party had been out of luck in the race since Imperial Call's 1996 victory.

Nowadays such gaps for Team Ireland are rarer than a precious gem - with Galopin Des Champs providing a fifth straight Irish win.

Willie Mullins' newly-installed titleholder is a much shorter price to make it six than Kicking King's 4-1 odds for his big performance.