Kicking King won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March 2005

The 10-year-old, trained by Tom Taaffe, was only headed in the final strides of his first race for 759 days.

Kicking King, winner of the 2005 Gold Cup, travelled well before a mistake at the penultimate fence at Gowran Park.

Odds-on favourite Nickname stayed on in the heavy ground to win, with Kicking King second and former Champion Chase winner Newmill a close third.

Kicking King ws returning from a tendon injury and had not run since claiming his second King George VI Chase victory, at Sandown in December 2005.

Taaffe was delighted with the reappearance of his stable star, a 6-1 chance, in the three-runner Grade Two Normans Grove Chase over two miles and one furlong.

It is a journey of a thousand miles - and it begins with one step Tom Taaffe on the long road back for Kicking King

Before his comeback, Kicking King had been a top-priced 40-1 chance to reclaim the Gold Cup in March, but bookmakers cut the odds to as low as 14-1 after his fine run.

"He showed all his old enthusiasm for the game," said Taaffe.

"For me the most pleasing thing was after his mistake he got his momentum back and galloped all the way to the line, it takes a hell of a horse to do that and I think we're back.

"When you bring one back after that length (of time) it is a journey of a thousand miles and it begins with one step.

"The relief will be in two or three days but I'd be surprised if he had a problem as we have been very careful with him."

606: DEBATE I'm not saying he's going to win, but Kicking King merits his place in the Cheltenham Gold Cup DS

Kicking King's comeback adds a fascinating dimension to the blue riband event, which could see the Paul Nicholls-trained 2007 winner Kauto Star face prolific stablemate Denman for the first time.

Nicholls said: "It looked like he ran a nice race and I should think Tom will be well pleased.

"He's obviously a very good horse and if he were mine I'd be absolutely delighted."

Kicking King is likely to return to Gowran Park for the Red Mills Chase on 16 February while Nickname could be stepped up to three miles for the Irish Hennessy six days earlier.