Both Kings of the Marlborough downland have been in the Winner's Enclosure this weekend after some successful foraging at Sandown, Aintree and Huntingdon.
Yesterday, Alan King produced his first Grade I Jumps winner since Sceau Royal won the same race four years ago, when Edwardstone ran the legs out of Third Time Lucki in the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown. On winter ground, his economical style matched the conditions better than the Skelton horse's flamboyance, and he was able to create a winning distance of 16l, which puts him amongst the leading British candidates for the Arkle Chase next March.
King is, however, thoroughly grounded, having learnt to take each race as it comes from his original mentor, David Nicholson. One habit he's picked up from the Duke is a favouring of the track at Warwick, where February novice chases have long proven a great trial ground for Cheltenham the following month. The Kingmaker is a likely target meantime. Edwardstone does at least put him in with a legitimate shout of a big success at one or other of the big Spring Festivals either side of the Irish Sea, successes that have been elusive in the big spending sprees of some of King's rivals.
McNeill family debutant North Lodge also got his novice career off to a flying start with a neck victory in a hurdle over the minimum trip at Aintree.
Meanwhile, Neil King - trained Malina Jamila concluded her Bumper career with a debut win on the undercard at Huntingdon this afternoon.
Both Kings of the Marlborough downland have been in the Winner's Enclosure this weekend after some successful foraging at Sandown, Aintree and Huntingdon.
Yesterday, Alan King produced his first Grade I Jumps winner since Sceau Royal won the same race four years ago, when Edwardstone ran the legs out of Third Time Lucki in the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown. On winter ground, his economical style matched the conditions better than the Skelton horse's flamboyance, and he was able to create a winning distance of 16l, which puts him amongst the leading British candidates for the Arkle Chase next March.
King is, however, thoroughly grounded, having learnt to take each race as it comes from his original mentor, David Nicholson. One habit he's picked up from the Duke is a favouring of the track at Warwick, where February novice chases have long proven a great trial ground for Cheltenham the following month. The Kingmaker is a likely target meantime. Edwardstone does at least put him in with a legitimate shout of a big success at one or other of the big Spring Festivals either side of the Irish Sea, successes that have been elusive in the big spending sprees of some of King's rivals.
McNeill family debutant North Lodge also got his novice career off to a flying start with a neck victory in a hurdle over the minimum trip at Aintree.
Meanwhile, Neil King - trained Malina Jamila concluded her Bumper career with a debut win on the undercard at Huntingdon this afternoon.
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