Since taking out a licence in 1999/00 Alan King has developed to become one of the finest dual-purpose trainers in the land, with 16 wins at the Cheltenham Festival and significant success on the flat at Glorious Goodwood and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting.
Still going strong after over 25 years in the game, the Barbury Castle-based handler enjoyed a productive 2024 campaign on the flat – picking up a Listed success and over £500,000 in prize money for the sixth successive season. With winter setting in, King now turns his main focus to the jumping game.
Here, we pick out the standout National Hunt performers from the King string and outline the runners we will follow with interest in the months ahead.
Stable Stars
Edwardstone
A superstar for the yard since making his debut back in 2018. Now closing in on his eleventh birthday, Edwardstone has picked up three Grade 1 wins, including an Arkle Chase and a rout of the field in the 2022 Tingle Creek Chase. Running well to finish third behind Jonbon on his return in the Shloer Chase, he may have another big day in him.
Favour And Fortune
Long held in high regard by his trainer, this six-year-old ran to a high level in his debut season over hurdles – winning three of six starts, including the Scottish Champion Hurdle, and finishing second in the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. A setback meant he missed his intended return in the Greatwood Hurdle, but he appears the most likely to emerge as King’s next Graded star.
Five for the Horse Tracker
Something old and something new in the stable stars section. Elsewhere in the yard, King looks particularly strong in the Novice Hurdle and Novice Chase division, with the following quintet catching our eye.
- Blues Singer – Blue Bresil gelding who registered an eye-catching Bumper success on debut in the Spring. He couldn’t quite manage to defy a penalty when going down by a nose on his seasonal return, but he looks a natural to land a novice hurdle or two in the coming months.
- Charisma Cat – Having already produced six 140+ rated National Hunt performers, Nathaniel is emerging as a jumps sire of note. Whether Charisma Cat can add her name to that list remains to be seen, but she has certainly made an encouraging start. Two from two in Bumpers, she may have more to offer in that sphere and is one to watch when sent over hurdles.
- Don’t Mind If I Do – Finished an excellent second to £660,000 purchase, Regent’s Stroll, in a valuable Bumper at Newbury last term. Making his return in a Maiden Hurdle at Warwick, he again filled the runners-up spot when finding the highly regarded Castle Ivers a ½l too good. However, there was a yawning gap back to the third and he should go one better sooner rather than later.
- Masaccio – Whilst not always treating timber with much respect, this son of Mastercraftsman reached a useful level as a novice hurdler. However, we suspect that fences may be the making of him. Thoroughly professional on his chase debut at Newbury, he showed good speed in the straight to see off the useful Twinjets. Whilst it’s still early days, it wouldn’t be much of a shock to see this talented sort progress to Graded level.
- Menaggio – Promising if a little inconsistent over hurdles, this Milan gelding already looks like a significantly better horse over fences. Two starts at Plumpton have produced two wins by a combined 20l. It’s hard to know the value of that form so early in the season, but he looks a natural over the larger obstacles and can make his presence felt in a higher grade.
Jack Hartman
A lover of all sports, Jack has spent the last decade covering some of the biggest and best events on the planet. Living and breathing sport every day, he loves nothing better than bringing the excitement of events to his readers.
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