“Kicking King is great, he’s living in a five-star hotel, he’s not doing an awful lot,” said Taaffe.

“He’s actually walk riding for the first time today. Walk riding is nothing serious, but it’s like any horse when they get an injury like this, it is a long, slow process and you don’t know what’s at the end of it.

“We just have to bring him back and we’ll discuss what we do with him in October or November.”

Taaffe also gave stablemate Cane Break a clean bill of health following his fine performance to finish fifth in last week’s Gold Cup.

“We were absolutely delighted with him,” he told At The Races.

“He won the Troytown and the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas and we said there and then that we would prepare him for the Gold Cup without another run.

“I said to everyone I thought he would finish in the money and he won £11,500 (€16,800). He was only beaten 10 lengths and on softer ground he would have been even closer.

“He is entered in the Betfred and he will also have an entry in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown and he’ll be entered in the Irish National, but with that being a handicap we will have to have a close look.

“It’s all possible at this stage and the way he came out of the race we would be keen to run him again, obviously the drying ground could play a factor though.”

Taaffe was impressed by Kauto Star’s victory but believes he will be even better horse next year.

“I think he was given a super ride on the day and all you can do is win but I don’t think he was especially at his best.” he said.

“He’s had a hard season. There is no such thing as a bad Gold Cup, but as ratings go that wouldn’t be the highest ever.

“And if Cane Break can get within 10 lengths of him I just wonder if he was absolutely at his best.

“I thought at Newbury that he didn’t look as good as he did earlier in the season and after reading what Paul (Nicholls) has had to say about next year I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned out to be twice the horse next season.”