Kicking King - misses Cheltenham. (Getty Images)

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Best Mate has hardened to 5-2 clear favourite with Coral from 3-1 for next month's Gold Cup following today's news that the 7-1 third favourite Kicking King will miss the race.

Kicking King is Coral's worst ante post result in the Gold Cup and his defection from the race is yet another blow to ante post punters following the injuries to Fundamentalist and Kauto Star earlier in the year.

"It's a terrible shame for the connections but it is also a terrible blow for many punters who had backed Kicking King at all rates down from 40-1 at the start of the season to just 7-1," said Simon Clare, Coral Spokesman.

Coral reacted to the news by making Kicking King 4-1 favourite to win a second King George VI Steeplechase later this year, and are also offering 14-1 against Kicking King winning the 2006 Gold Cup.

"At least Kicking King will live to fight another day and he is already Coral's 4-1 ante post favourite to retain his King George crown," added Clare.

As well as trimming Best Mate to 5-2 from 3-1, Coral also cut Kingscliff to 11-2 from 6-1, Strong Flow to 7-1 from 9-1, and Cesletial Gold to 10-1 from 14-1.