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The 11-8 favourite battled to hold off the challenge of Monkerhostin in the closing stages to record back-to-back wins in the Grade One feature.

Jockey Barry Geraghty brought the 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner up to challenge with three fences to go.

And although Impek and then Monkerhostin did their best, Kicking King sneaked the win by a neck.

There was disappointment for the highly-rated Kingscliff, who faded badly with about a circuit still to go and was never in contention. It was later discovered he had twisted a shoe during that run.

The victory was a welcome return to form for Tom Taaffe's charge who finished third to Kingscliff at Haydock last month.

Kicking King has won the Gold Cup once. I can't see why he can't win another one Jockey Barry Geraghty

The win shortens the seven-year-old's odds of retaining the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March and jockey Geraghty is confident he has a good chance of another success in the race.

"He's just a class act, but they probably did not go that quick," said Geraghty. "I had hoped we'd be coming off a fast pace like in the Gold Cup and on good ground. That suits him better.

"Monkerhostin did stay on well, but the ground is very dead. A better pace would have been ideal for me, but my horse can jump. He's something serious.

"He's won the Gold Cup once. I can't see why he can't win another one."

Trainer Taaffe was pleased with his decision to run Kicking King at Sandown.

"The last day at Haydock the horse just wasn't up to his standard," said Taaffe. "I've always been straightforward about the excuses and I think it's been vindicated today.

"After Haydock, it took a good nine days before he came back with any spirit in him, to show any real well-being.

Feathard Lady continued her superb unbeaten record

"I spoke to Conor [owner Conor Clarkson] and we both agreed if we weren't 100% happy we wouldn't be coming here.

"The battle plan now is to batten down the hatches altogether until March, and I'd hope he'd be a better horse again by then."

Earlier, Irish challenger Feathard Lady put in a highly impressive run to win the Christmas Hurdle.

The 6-4 favourite was kept well in touch by Ruby Walsh throughout the early part of the race behind former winner Intersky Falcon.

But Walsh brought the Colm Murphy-trained filly through with two fences to go and she ran on strongly to win by 12 lengths.

Self Defense held on well for second with Royal Shakespeare back in third.

Meanwhile, the 13-8 favourite Darkness, ridden by Tony McCoy, swooped late to win the Feltham Novices Chase - his fourth win out of five this season.

Jumping the last, Zabenz led narrowly from Bewleys Berry but McCoy's mount showed tremendous stamina on the run-in to claim victory.

King George VI Chase
1. Kicking King (B J Geraghty) 11-8 Fav
2. Monkerhostin (T Scudamore) 22-1
3. Impek (A P McCoy) 13-2
9 ran. Dist: nk, 5

Christmas Hurdle
1. Feathard Lady (R Walsh) 6-4 Fav
2. Self Defense (M A Fitzgerald) 13-2
3. Royal Shakespeare (T Scudamore) 12-1
7 ran. Dist: 12, 3