The National Hunt season is already two months old, although October heralds the start of the higher grade races that punctuate some of the biggest meetings during the campaign. Amongst the highlights in October will be the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow, and the Old Roan Chase at Aintree, as well as Cheltenham's opening two day fixture.
Regarded as one of the most prestigious local training centres, Barbury Castle Stables led by renowned thoroughbred trainer Alan King has enjoyed consistent success over the years, including numerous triumphs at many of the leading Flat and National Hunt races. During the 2020 Flat Season, starting with Rainbow Dreamer at Kempton in January, and most recently, Dromquinna at Beverly in July, the stable has continued to grow its reputation as a dual purpose yard, with 17 winners to date earning £230,686 in total prize money, of which the highlights undoubtedly have to be a treble at an albeit empty Royal Ascot.
Responsible for preparing 41 winners during the 2019-20 National Hunt season, earning £644,470 in total prize money, Alan King remains amongst the leading UK trainers. Highly respected amongst his peers in the horse racing scene, undoubtedly, he will be looking forward to another successful campaign and more winning form. And in common with his peers, his 2019-20 tally was compromised by the loss of the last 6 weeks of the season that includes major races at Aintree, Ayr and Sandown.
Indeed, looking at the latest bet365 horse racing betting odds for the NH Trainers Championship, King is tipped as a competitive 100/1 shot for the annual title itself. Outright favourites are Nicky Henderson at 4/6 and Paul Nicholls at 11/10, along with Willie Mullins at 25/1. This would suggest that King is predicted to remain amongst the top ten UK trainers, if not within the top five.
As you'd expect from a man who learnt his trade from David Nicholson, during his career, King has developed a particular affinity with the Cheltenham Festival, and for many of his owners, Cheltenham is a prime motivation. His first major success there was Fork Lightning in the 2004 William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase, while two horses brought him double victories. My Way De Solzen won the 2006 World Hurdle and then the Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase in 2007, while Katchit claimed the Triumph Hurdle in 2007 and the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy the following year.
In total, King has trained 15 winners at the Cheltenham Festival so far. The most recent was Uxizandre in the 2015 Ryanair Chase, which followed the 2014 success of Midnight Prayer in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, and Medinas in the 2013 Coral Cup. Although wins at the Festival have eluded his stable in recent years, his tally of other big race wins at Cheltenham ensures he remains a key contender for any Festival race and he will undoubtedly field a potent list of competitive horses next March. By way of example, he has won Cheltenham's Unibet Greatwood Hurdle, the season's first £100k handicap, in two of the last three seasons.
In the meantime, and with the 2020-21 National Hunt season really set to kick into gear over the next few months, King will be keen to get more winners. Don't be fooled by his current season standings, where King has 1 winner and 10 prizes from 18 runs. This is a yard that is relentlessly focused on the bigger races. Expect to see A King, Wroughton against plenty of winners once the leaves have turned.
With the National Hunt schedule packed with key races from October through to December, there will be plenty of opportunities for Wiltshire's leading yard to rally momentum for a blistering Jumps campaign.
The National Hunt season is already two months old, although October heralds the start of the higher grade races that punctuate some of the biggest meetings during the campaign. Amongst the highlights in October will be the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow, and the Old Roan Chase at Aintree, as well as Cheltenham's opening two day fixture.
Regarded as one of the most prestigious local training centres, Barbury Castle Stables led by renowned thoroughbred trainer Alan King has enjoyed consistent success over the years, including numerous triumphs at many of the leading Flat and National Hunt races. During the 2020 Flat Season, starting with Rainbow Dreamer at Kempton in January, and most recently, Dromquinna at Beverly in July, the stable has continued to grow its reputation as a dual purpose yard, with 17 winners to date earning £230,686 in total prize money, of which the highlights undoubtedly have to be a treble at an albeit empty Royal Ascot.
Responsible for preparing 41 winners during the 2019-20 National Hunt season, earning £644,470 in total prize money, Alan King remains amongst the leading UK trainers. Highly respected amongst his peers in the horse racing scene, undoubtedly, he will be looking forward to another successful campaign and more winning form. And in common with his peers, his 2019-20 tally was compromised by the loss of the last 6 weeks of the season that includes major races at Aintree, Ayr and Sandown.
Indeed, looking at the latest bet365 horse racing betting odds for the NH Trainers Championship, King is tipped as a competitive 100/1 shot for the annual title itself. Outright favourites are Nicky Henderson at 4/6 and Paul Nicholls at 11/10, along with Willie Mullins at 25/1. This would suggest that King is predicted to remain amongst the top ten UK trainers, if not within the top five.
As you'd expect from a man who learnt his trade from David Nicholson, during his career, King has developed a particular affinity with the Cheltenham Festival, and for many of his owners, Cheltenham is a prime motivation. His first major success there was Fork Lightning in the 2004 William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase, while two horses brought him double victories. My Way De Solzen won the 2006 World Hurdle and then the Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase in 2007, while Katchit claimed the Triumph Hurdle in 2007 and the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy the following year.
In total, King has trained 15 winners at the Cheltenham Festival so far. The most recent was Uxizandre in the 2015 Ryanair Chase, which followed the 2014 success of Midnight Prayer in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, and Medinas in the 2013 Coral Cup. Although wins at the Festival have eluded his stable in recent years, his tally of other big race wins at Cheltenham ensures he remains a key contender for any Festival race and he will undoubtedly field a potent list of competitive horses next March. By way of example, he has won Cheltenham's Unibet Greatwood Hurdle, the season's first £100k handicap, in two of the last three seasons.
In the meantime, and with the 2020-21 National Hunt season really set to kick into gear over the next few months, King will be keen to get more winners. Don't be fooled by his current season standings, where King has 1 winner and 10 prizes from 18 runs. This is a yard that is relentlessly focused on the bigger races. Expect to see A King, Wroughton against plenty of winners once the leaves have turned.
With the National Hunt schedule packed with key races from October through to December, there will be plenty of opportunities for Wiltshire's leading yard to rally momentum for a blistering Jumps campaign.
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