Training racehorses has something in common with catching a bus; you check the timetable for the race most suited to your horse, wait, and wait, then suddenly, two buses come alomng at the same time.
So it has been for Alan King, acclaimed dual purpose trainer of Barbury, a location we Pointing folk miss attending very much. By previous standards June and July were spartan months, denuded of regular winners based on previous years. but all of a sudden, things are beginning to happen again.
A score of runners since the start of the month have not been troubling the judge over much. But a modest amateur riders' handicap at Salisbury a week ago gave indications that a corner was to be turned. Oscar Palmer on Gavi de Gavi finished a close up second, since when a string of winners and placed horses has taken place.
Handicap winners at Lingfield, then a double at Salisbury and Kempton yesterday have interspersed with narrowly beaten horses filling the second and third places. These may be bread & butter races, but they illustrate a yard coming back to form.
Of course, in previous seasons, the autumn has proved a fertile time due to Trueshan's exploits at Ascot. He's entered up for the British Champions Series long Distance Cup once again, but this time around is likely to go off at longer odds. it may be his time to switch codes; he's surely a potentially interesting Champion Hurdle type given his Flat speed.
Let's hope this return to form extends to runners over obstacles when the Jumps returns at Perth this Saturday.
Training racehorses has something in common with catching a bus; you check the timetable for the race most suited to your horse, wait, and wait, then suddenly, two buses come alomng at the same time.
So it has been for Alan King, acclaimed dual purpose trainer of Barbury, a location we Pointing folk miss attending very much. By previous standards June and July were spartan months, denuded of regular winners based on previous years. but all of a sudden, things are beginning to happen again.
A score of runners since the start of the month have not been troubling the judge over much. But a modest amateur riders' handicap at Salisbury a week ago gave indications that a corner was to be turned. Oscar Palmer on Gavi de Gavi finished a close up second, since when a string of winners and placed horses has taken place.
Handicap winners at Lingfield, then a double at Salisbury and Kempton yesterday have interspersed with narrowly beaten horses filling the second and third places. These may be bread & butter races, but they illustrate a yard coming back to form.
Of course, in previous seasons, the autumn has proved a fertile time due to Trueshan's exploits at Ascot. He's entered up for the British Champions Series long Distance Cup once again, but this time around is likely to go off at longer odds. it may be his time to switch codes; he's surely a potentially interesting Champion Hurdle type given his Flat speed.
Let's hope this return to form extends to runners over obstacles when the Jumps returns at Perth this Saturday.
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