Alan King sets out running plans as revival builds momentum February 3rd, 2010
The shackles are finally coming off Alan Kings mighty string and rival trainers should beware a flood of winners. This impression was emphasised at a drizzly Taunton yesterday, not just by the victory of Whistlejacquet but by the conspicuously positive mood of the trainer.
Such was his blue sky thinking, as he ran lucidly through his leading Cheltenham candidates, that King referred to Mill Reef, an amusing slip of the tongue that might just indicate his lofty opinion of the Triumph Hurdle favourite, Mille Chief.
Months of torment from mysteriously sick horses have given way only gradually to the normal, prolific business of Barbury Castle. Even last weekend, King had to withdraw Karabak from the Cleeve Hurdle after a dirty scope, though he insisted yesterday this was not connected to our problems before Christmas.
While Karabak heads straight to the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, King is finding final pre-Festival targets for his key novices. The Betchworth Kid, deprived a run at Doncaster last Saturday, is pencilled in for Kempton a week on Friday and Salden Licht for the same track a fortnight later.
Mille Chief, meanwhile, could make a surprise reappearance at Huntingdon in the Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle tomorrow week. We were originally going to wait for the Adonis at the end of the month but if that was off wed be snookered, King explained. This gives me a clear month before Cheltenham.
King is still without Robert Thornton, his stable jockey, who sustained back injuries a week ago. Hes been having physio and seeing the doctor again today, the trainer said. While hes out, its good to be giving opportunities to Wayne Hutchinson, who is riding with a lot of confidence.
Hutchinson will be aboard Oh Crick in the featured Blue Square Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday, provided the horse works satisfactorily today. He also survived the stumble of Whistlejacquet at the second-last to add another string to the yards enviable hand in Festival novice hurdles.
The same cannot be said of the days most impressive winner. Voramar Two travelled sweetly and outstayed such high-profile opponents as Valentine Vic and Cappa Bleu in the style of a progressive hurdler.
However, Philip Hobbs, his trainer, confessed: The Cheltenham novices closed this morning and I didnt put him in. His previous form didnt warrant it but he now looks a natural for the three-miler.
Cappa Bleu, reverting to hurdles after a heavy fall in the Hennessy Gold Cup, delighted Evan Williams, his trainer, by finishing second. It was a bad fall and this has got him back on track, he said.
The defeat of Valentine Vic added to a frustrating afternoon for the champion trainer, Paul Nicholls, until Ruby Walsh won the concluding bumper on Rock On Ruby, named in his honour. He also schooled Denman this morning and was delighted with him, Nicholls said. It might give him a decision to make.