Kicking King goes clear to strike Gold (Getty Images).

By Dave Ord, Cheltenham

Even in the absence of Best Mate the 2005 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup threw up a star.

Kicking King defied concerns over a recent health scare and the three-and-a-quarter miles to land chasing's blue riband on Friday afternoon.

This was a performance of high quality from a horse who will ensure Henrietta Knight's star faces a tough task to reclaim his crown in 2006.

We always knew he would travel in the race but not this well.

Going out on the second circuit he was fighting for his head. By the third last he had jumped to the front.

But this was the acid test. Would Kicking King get up the hill?

There were moments of concern, especially as outsider Take The Stand refused to throw in the towel.

He was only a length behind at the final fence but Kicking King was fluent and Barry Gerraghty determined. He wasn't going to stop.

The 4-1 favourite was roared home. Punters had faith in the King George hero - and were rewarded in style.

We will never know how Best Mate would have fared in the race but he now has a serious rival for the staying chase crown.

The runner-up ran a remarkable race but the handicapper will take note while Sir Rembrandt again proved he is ideally suited by the searching stamina test of the race in third.

The disappointment of the race was Beef Or Salmon, making mistakes and requiring vigorous driving before dropping tamely away.

For him the Gold Cup remains a distant dream - for Kicking King glorious reality.

In many ways people feared this may be a sub-standard renewal with so many star names missing.

It wasn't.

Kicking King was the best horse in the race, and on the formbook clearly the best staying chaser of season 2004-5.

The reign of Best Mate is over - connections hope temporarily - but the roaring thousands at Cheltenham on Friday were hailing a new King.

Earlier there was a cracking renewal of the Triumph Hurdle with Penzance edging out Faasel.

Both have bright futures - but so thankfully has Kicking King.

He was another bright spot on an unforgettable four days at Prestbury Park.

In Tom Taaffe's star, Hardy Eustace and Moscow Flyer, National Hunt racing has three champions to proud of. It has been a vintage Festival.