Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King has joined Harchibald on the sidelines and will miss the rest of the season after suffering a strain in an upper tendon.

The shock news came just 24 hours after the latter was all but ruled out of the Champion Hurdle, and Tom Taaffe's blue riband holder may not be back on the track until next Christmas.

He had been the 7-4 favourite with both William Hill and Ladbrokes to retain his crown in March.

''He has strained his tendon and on veterinary advice, myself and his owner Conor Clarkson have decided the horse will not run in the Gold Cup,'' said Taaffe.

''I am not certain but I think it happened at Sandown when he won the King George.

''Nothing showed up for two days, but we were watching him and thought he had just banged his leg until we got it assessed.

''He has been scanned intensively by my vet Jimmy Kelly in Naas and the strain is in the upper third of his tendon, which is good news.

''If it was at the bottom it can be difficult to get them back, but they can often recover well from upper strains.

''I would hope to give him walking exercise, but he will definitely not be back this season.

''His target is now the 2007 Gold Cup. He has had good healing powers in the past and I would hope he has a similar response to this.

''I'd like to think we would have him back on the track next Christmas with a view of going to Cheltenham.''

Barry Geraghty has ridden Kicking King to 11 of his 12 career successes and hopes Taaffe's charge will be able to return at the peak of his powers.

''Kicking King and Moscow Flyer are a class apart from the rest and it is very disappointing to be without one of them for the rest of the season. Hopefully he will come back as good as ever,'' he said.

After disappointing at Haydock in the Betfair Chase, Kicking King returned to winning ways to beat Monkerhostin by a neck and land back-to-back wins in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day.

He had been ruled out of last year's Cheltenham showpiece at one stage after scoping dirty.

Taaffe announced he would miss the Festival less than three weeks before the race, but the Old Vic gelding recovered in time to take his chance and a new star was born.

Beef Or Salmon is the new 5-1 favourite with Coral to make it fourth time lucky in the big race having been cut from 10-1.

His trainer Michael Hourigan said: ''I have just heard about it, but that is the thing with horses - you just don't know.''

Beef Or Salmon was trimmed in the ante-post lists last week following his third Lexus Chase win, and is now being prepared to return on the Dublin track on February 12.

''He has come back from Leopardstown in good order and I'll get him ready for the Hennessy now,'' Hourigan added.

''He might be a shade better on softer ground, but I really don't think it matters to him.''

Cashmans make Betfair Chase winner Kingscliff their 4-1 favourite, with Beef Or Salmon, who finished second that day, a 5-1 chance. Totesport make Robert Alner's charge their 9-2 market leader.

Kingscliff disappointed in the King George when making a mistake and being pulled up, but owner Arnie Sendell reports the nine-year-old to be in good form.

''I suppose we will be near enough favourite now, but you don't get any money in your pocket for that,'' said Sendell.