Last Updated: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 15:19
Connections of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking Kick remain 'cautiously optimistic' he will make his comeback.
The Tom Taaffe-trained nine-year-old won the festival feature race two years ago but has since been sidelined after picking up a leg injury when winning the King George VI Chase later in 2005.
Kicking King looked to be ready to return last term but then suffered a further setback.
However, owner Conor Clarkson has delivered an upbeat report on the star's possible return and said: "We are cautiously more optimistic than we were in December of last year.
"We are a little bit more optimistic now. The horse is walking out and it would be our intention, subject to a vet's examination towards the end of August, to consider putting him back into training."