Tag Archive for: Alan King

Trueshan back at Ascot with something to prove

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Alan King feels Trueshan has tightened up since his surprise defeat on his seasonal debut and is keen to see how a rematch with his Nottingham conqueror Rajinsky plays out in the Longines Sagaro Stakes.

With the usual proviso about soft ground dictating plans for the rest of the season, there is sufficient cut in the ground to enable King to run his star stayer in the Group Three contest on Royal Ascot Trials Day for the first time.

Trueshan, winner of the Prix du Cadran in 2021, signed off last season with a third success in the British Champions Long Distance Cup, beating Coltrane by a head.

The pair meet again on similar terms, although King’s charge has yet to be beaten at Ascot.

Trueshan returns to the same course and distance on the back of a season-opening defeat by Hugo Palmer’s Rajinsky by half a length at Colwick Park.

King said: “I don’t think anything went wrong at Nottingham aside from he didn’t win. He just got a bit tired on that very deep ground.

“He looks to have tightened up and has worked very well since, so we’ll see what happens on Wednesday.

“He has always got beaten the odd time here and there but on the whole he is very consistent.

“It is a good, tight race, a quality race, and it will be interesting. We’re happy this end, and hoping for a good show.”

Trueshan, who will be ridden by Hollie Doyle as usual, has yet to see his colours lowered at Ascot in three previous visits.

With last season’s Gold Cup winner Kyprios suffering a setback, one of the best stayers in several years may not be ready in time to defend his title.

However, King insists Trueshan will only run at the Royal meeting should there be ease in the ground.

“He is always ground dependent,” he added. “He can only go where there is a bit of soft in the ground. Even good ground is too quick for him these days.

“Let’s get this out of the way. We have entered him for the Gold Cup this morning, but his whole programme revolves round the weather.”

Trueshan’s Nottingham conqueror Rajinsky takes him on again instead of lining up in next week’s Chester Cup, but Harry Davies’ mount is worse off at the weights this time.

Palmer said: “He produced a career-best last time and he is going to need to improve on that this time, not least for the fact that he meets Trueshan on 2lb worse terms.

“But the horse goes well at Ascot and we’ve been happy with him since, although these are very deep waters.”

Like Trueshan, Rajinsky has been handed a Gold Cup entry and is similarly ground-dependent.

“The Gold Cup entries closed on Tuesday, and we have put him in,” added Palmer. “The horse needs soft ground and I am slightly worried about the ground’s ability to dry out at Ascot.

“I’m worried about this week, but we’ve seen Ascots where it has been bottomless at the Royal meeting and if we’ve got a soft-ground Royal Ascot, he’d definitely be worth taking his chance, because I think there would be a chance that he’d say further.”

Kevin Philippart De Foy could send El Habeeb stateside for his next outing, should he run well.

The four-year-old, who signed off his Classic campaign with victory in the Listed Noel Murless at Ascot over two furlongs shorter, ran well in defeat on his first try over two miles in Dubai in March.

El Habeeb and Andrea Atzeni return to the scene of their Noel Murless success
El Habeeb and Andrea Atzeni return to the scene of their Noel Murless success (Adam Davy/PA)

The strapping son of Al Rifai could then return to run in the Gold Cup.

“He filled out well over the winter and should have come on for his run in Dubai,” said Philippart De Foy.

“This will be the most competitive race he’s run in and you have some true Group One horses in the race, but we are happy with the way his preparation has been and the horse is in a good place.

“The good to soft ground should be perfect and it will be interesting to see him against that kind of company, and we will have a better idea of what we do going forward.

“Winning will be difficult, but if we can be placed that would be great. After that, there is a nice race at Belmont in early June, a two-mile race for four-year-olds, that could suit him.

“He travelled very well to Dubai and put weight on once he got there. If he ran well, we would have to consider coming back for the Gold Cup – at the moment he would have to improve a fair bit to take part in the Gold Cup. This will tell us a bit more.”

King outlines Trueshan worry after Nottingham defeat

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Alan King is worried Trueshan could have been in one too many battles having finished only second on his reappearance in Nottingham’s Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes.

A winner of 13 of his 22 starts, the dual Group One scorer used the Colwick Park Listed contest as his starting point 12 months ago and was the 4-9 favourite to defend his crown and make a winning return.

However, having travelled smoothly into contention at the three-furlong pole, he could not get past Hugo Palmer’s Rajinsky, leaving the Barbury Castle handler to ponder if his star stayer has gone to the well once too often – with his next outing potentially proving crucial.

He said: “I’m very disappointed. He hasn’t run a bad race, but it was disappointing.

“Hollie thought she would win three out but knew she was beat two out.

“I just worry he has had a lot of very hard battles and just worry it is starting to leave its mark on him mentally. That’s what worries me more than anything, but we will know more after his next race.

“He will have to step forward from that and I’m not even sure where we would go.

“I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t disappointed, I’m very disappointed and I am concerned about whether he is a little bit mentally scarred these days.”

Trueshan ran only five times last year due to the quick summer ground, winning the Northumberland Plate but having to settle for third behind Kyprios in the Goodwood Cup before being beaten a neck in the Doncaster Cup.

He rounded off the year with a third Long Distance Cup verdict on Champions Day at Ascot, but King said: “He’s had some brutally hard races.

“Goodwood we jarred him up and we got him back for Doncaster but he then had another hard, deep race. He ran terribly well at Goodwood, but at Doncaster he was remembering that and didn’t let himself down. We got him back for Ascot but that was a gruelling race as well.”

Trueshan (left) had to battle for success on Champions Day
Trueshan (left) had to battle for success on Champions Day (John Walton/PA)

When asked if race fitness played its part on reappearance, King added: “He has worked awfully well and we don’t weigh them, but we had to go for an extra long girth to get round him today – he looked really big and powerful.

“He was having a nice blow without an excessive one and I don’t want to use that as an excuse, but the next race will tell us a lot.”

Despite his defeat, Trueshan is still the 11-2 favourite, pushed out from 9-2, with Coral for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, with Kyprios a doubt to defend his title.

Trueshan returns in Further Flight Stakes

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Top-class stayer Trueshan returns to action in the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham on Wednesday but Mojo Star is now a non-runner.

Having won the Goodwood Cup, the Prix du Cadran and claimed a second Long Distance Cup in 2021, Alan King’s Trueshan made a successful start to last season in this one-mile-six-furlong Listed contest.

Unsuitable conditions meant he did not run again until carrying top-weight to victory in the Northumberland Plate on the all-weather Newcastle in June, after which he was placed in the Goodwood and Doncaster Cups before completing a Long Distance Cup hat-trick on Champions Day at Ascot.

With the ground in his favour, King is looking forward to getting Trueshan back on the track.

King said: “It will be good to get him started and we’ve been very happy with him at home, but it’s a good renewal isn’t it?

“It looks a good starting point and I’m very happy with him, so we’ll see.

“He’s had a similar programme, so I would have thought he’ll be similar to where he was this time last year fitness-wise. He’s ready to start back, it will obviously bring him on but it will probably bring them all on a bit.”

One returning from a lengthy absence is Nicky Henderson’s Buzz, who won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and the Ascot Hurdle in the autumn of 2021 but has been off the track since.

Brian Ellison’s Tashkhan has performed with credit in top staying races over the past couple of seasons and makes his first appearance since finishing third behind Kyprios in October’s Prix du Cadran.

Rajinsky (Hugo Palmer), Urban Artist (Hughie Morrison) an Typewriter (Andrew Balding) are the other declared runners.

Edwardstone looks to be finished for the season

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Edwardstone is unlikely to run again this season, as Alan King attempts to find the reason for his lacklustre display in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Impressive winner of the Arkle last season, the nine-year-old had suffered a stop-start preparation due to unusually quick ground conditions this term.

While sent off the 15-8 second-favourite to avenge his defeat by the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene in the Clarence House Chase, which had been rerouted from Ascot to Cheltenham, he was never travelling with much fluency and finished fifth, some 64 lengths behind Mullins’ star.

Unseasonably quick autumn ground meant Edwardstone was not seen until December, where he duly romped to a nine-length win in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

Long odds-on for the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas, he unseated Tom Cannon early on and, having suffered a setback after going down a head in the Clarence House, King was naturally disappointed with his latest effort.

“He’s perfectly sound after it,” said King. “We are obviously going to be running a few checks in the next week or so, but certainly there was no repeat of the lameness he had last time.

“At the moment there’s nothing more to add, really.

“We might find something. We have lots of things to do, but at the moment I haven’t go any answers. He’s fine in himself. He was fine the next morning.

“Of course we are disappointed, because I’d been so pleased with his preparation, but whatever it was, I knew we were beat after two fences. He just wasn’t travelling.”

King was not looking to blame the easy ground for defeat and will give Edwardstone all the time he needs to recover.

He added: “I don’t want to blame the ground because he’s won well on that ground before, so I don’t think it was that. I wouldn’t have thought he would run again this season.”

The Barbury Castle handler is keen to get a better run into the Champion Chase next season and added: “I would have thought the plan will be the same next year. Let’s just hope we can get him started better next year. It has been a stop-start season.

“It has not been a disaster, we have still got a Tingle Creek to our credit, so they can’t take that off him.

“But it has not been an easy year – we’ve never got into a total rhythm with him because of the ground and the weather, but there we are. These things happen. I’ve been at it a long time to understand nothing is straightforward.”

Major Dundee wins Midlands National battle

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Alan King’s Major Dundee was an impressive winner of the Boulton Group Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter.

Ridden by Rex Dingle and starting at 12-1, the eight-year-old carried the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings to a tough staying performance when jumping well and prevailing by three lengths.

Third in the Scottish Grand National last season, the gelding could now return to the same race at Ayr in the spring having defeated Chris Honour’s Tile Tapper by three lengths.

King said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s been a difficult season because we ran him at Ascot in the early season and he just got jarred up.

“It’s been a struggle to get him back, he ran OK at Kempton the other day but he’s just much better going left-handed. I was thrilled with him today.

Major Dundee and Rex Dingle
Major Dundee and Rex Dingle (Tim Goode/PA)

“It’s the first ride that Rex has ever had for me and the one thing I said to him was just to try to get into a rhythm and then see what happens.

“That’s exactly what he did, got him travelling, got him jumping. I was very pleased all round.

“He’s had a hard race today on that ground, I would imagine it would be the Scottish Grand National or that’s him for the year, we’ll see. I’m delighted to win that race and he’s still a young horse, so there’s hopefully more to come.

“As a novice last year he finished third in the Scottish National. He’s a typical Hemmings type of horse so it’s very special.”

Mullins backing Energumene to bounce back in Champion Chase defence

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Energumene has something to prove when he returns to Cheltenham to defend his Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase crown on Wednesday.

The horse responsible for ensuring Willie Mullins has the full collection of championship events at the Festival looked set to become the dominant force in the two-mile chase division when following up his Champion Chase triumph in impressive style at the Punchestown Festival before then returning in rude health at Cork in December.

However, his momentum was checked on Trials day when Energumene could only finish third in the rearranged Clarence House Chase.

The master of Closutton identified a couple of reasons for the under-par performance in the aftermath of that contest and is hoping to see his charge correct the record in the day two feature.

“It was great to finally get a Champion Chase last year and I think in the Clarence House he just needed the run over those different style of fences,” said Mullins.

“Even though he’d schooled over them at home, sometimes a horse just needs to get out on the track and see the thing and I’m sure that experience will stand to him when it comes to jumping off in the Champion Chase.

“There’s no such thing as a slowly-run Champion Chase and I think that’s going to suit us.

“The Clarence House was a very tactical race and I think a few jockeys might change tactics the next day.

“We learnt a lot I think and I’m happy and Paul (Townend) is happy he’ll improve a lot from that day.”

Energumene had to settle for third in the Clarence House with the Gary Moore-trained Editeur Du Gite making most before holding off the fast-finishing Edwardstone in a thrilling finish.

It was Alan King’s Arkle hero who went into most notebooks on that occasion and the Barbury Castle handler is happy with where he has the favourite ahead of the main event.

“I would obviously have preferred to have won (on Trials day), but it wasn’t to be and Gary’s horse battled back well,” said King.

“I’m very happy where I have the horse and we can’t do any more our end.

“We’re in very good shape for Wednesday, we just hope to get a nice, clean run now and see what happens.”

Festival Trials Day – Cheltenham Racecourse – Saturday 28th January
Editeur Du Gite (right) ridden by Niall Houlihan clears a fence before going on to win the Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase during Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

Editeur Du Gite’s victory was the second time this season he has caused an upset in a key Champion Chase trial, having also won the Desert Orchid Chase, and Moore sees no reason why the nine-year-old cannot play a leading role once again.

He said: “As long as he is as good as he was last time, that’s what he needs to be really.

“I see no reason why he can’t run like that again. I’m very happy with him, his preparation has gone well and it’s all systems go.”

Editeur Du Gite wears the colours carried to Champion Chase success by the stable’s Sire De Grugy in 2014 and Moore admits the improvement his contender has shown this season has caught him by surprise.

“Hopefully he can do the same as Sire De Grugy,” he continued.

“It would be nice and also a bit unbelievable – something I never thought he would be doing anyway. But it just shows you never know in this game!

“It’s surprised me how much he has improved but time is an amazing thing in racing and he has improved a massive amount and probably needs to improve a bit more now as well.”

The race will also be a big occasion for Niall Houlihan, who has struck up a fine relationship with Editeur Du Gite and will be riding in the Champion Chase for the first time.

“It’s a massive day for him and there’s a lot of responsibility on his head, but he’s a pretty cool guy and I don’t think it will be a problem to him,” added Moore.

“Everyone knows how Editeur Du Gite races and will be well aware of it and I hope Niall is as well – I’m sure he will be. If the others want to go fast with him, then so be it.”

Nube Negra won the Shloer Chase over course and distance in November, but was somewhat disappointing when second to Editeur Du Gite at Kempton in the Desert Orchid.

Dan Skelton alongside Nube Negra, during a visit to Dan Skelton’s stables at Lodge Hill, Alcester
Dan Skelton alongside Nube Negra, during a visit to Dan Skelton’s stables at Lodge Hill, Alcester (Jacob King?PA)

He has been freshened up by Dan Skelton ahead of another crack at the Champion Chase – attempting to go one better than his second to Put The Kettle On in 2021.

“Nube Negra goes very well fresh and is very good around the course,” said Skelton.

“Any dry days or hours would be appreciated. The day he beat Altior at Kempton it was officially described as soft, but we do know the better the ground, the more suitable it is for him.

“He’s very good at home and I couldn’t have him any better to be honest.”

Greaneteen was only a length and a half further back in fourth on that occasion and has since won the Tingle Creek twice.

He suffered a surprise defeat in the Game Spirit at Newbury, but trainer Paul Nicholls felt his charge really needed the outing that day.

Greaneteen disappointed at Newbury last month
Greaneteen disappointed at Newbury last month (Nigel French/PA)

He told Betfair: “I couldn’t be happier with Greaneteen who is much sharper now after a below-0par run at Newbury a month ago when I left him under cooked. I think you can put a line through that run when he was too fresh and the ground was quicker than he likes.

“Greaneteen pleased me in an away day at Lambourn recently, is much fitter going to Cheltenham and will appreciate some ease in the ground. He ran very well when finishing a close fourth in the race two years ago and I can see him being placed again.”

Venetia Williams’ Funambule Sivola won the Game Spirit and was also runner-up in this last year, while Captain Guinness completes the line-up attempting to provide Henry de Bromhead with a fourth Champion Chase trophy.

Sceau Royal sticking to hurdles at either Aintree or Sandown

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The ever-popular Sceau Royal is set to stay over hurdles, with connections mulling over a run at either Aintree or Sandown before the end of the season.

The Alan King-trained 11-year-old was at his enthusiastic best in the autumn, winning a Kempton Listed hurdle for the second season in a row before finishing a good second to Knappers Hill in the Grade Two Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Although struggling to make his mark in both Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle and when switched to fences at the Dublin Racing Festival, he showed his old zest when encountering spring ground in Fontwell’s National Spirit Hurdle recently – finishing just over a length behind the winner Brewin’upastorm.

Now he is set for one further appearance before the current campaign draws to a close – and having proven he now stays further than the bare two miles the Aintree Hurdle on April 13 or the bet365 Select Hurdle on the final day of the season (April 29) are possible options.

“He’s quite remarkable, isn’t he – to be 11 and still running to that level,” said King.

“We were delighted with the run and he was giving the winner 6lb as well at Fontwell.

Trainer Alan King hopes Sceau Royal sticks around at Barbury Castle for a little longer
Trainer Alan King hopes Sceau Royal sticks around at Barbury Castle for a little longer (David Davies/PA)

“We will freshen him up and regroup and he will either go to Aintree or Sandown. I think we will probably stay down the hurdles route with him now, he seems a little bit happier over hurdles these days.

“He proved at Fontwell he gets two and a half these days and he’s just a pleasure to train.”

A winner of 17 of his 50 career appearances, Sceau Royal is already well into the twilight of his career, with King appreciating a conversation will soon be had about his future. However, he is hopeful his admirable stable stalwart will stick around at Barbury Castle for a little while longer.

He added: “He will have one more run this season and I’m sure we will have a chat, but I very much hope we get him back for another year because he’s loving his training and he will tell us when he’s had enough.”

Under Control has Newbury covered in stylish winning debut

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Bigger things can be expected from Under Control having made a winning debut for Nicky Henderson at Newbury.

A winner at Fontainebleau in her only previous start, the four-year-old was sent off 5-4 favourite for her UK bow in the BetVictor Proud Sponsors Of Newbury Juvenile Hurdle.

Her victory was one half of a double on the day for Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville – who also landed the concluding Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle with Spring Note (5-2).

Owned by JP McManus, Under Control travelled with real enthusiasm throughout before putting the race to bed with minimal fuss, De Boinville motionless in the saddle as she delivered a four-and-a-half-length verdict.

The master of Seven Barrows was quick to to rule out an appearance in the Ryanair Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but admitted Aintree’s Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle is a possibility.

“I was delighted with her, it was an impressive performance,” said Henderson.

“She’s only had one run in her life and I didn’t know what to expect. She’s not a great big filly and we haven’t had her very long. Her jumping needed a bit of educating, but she’s very straight and I thought she was good today. It was a very nice debut.

“She jumped beautifully. We actually schooled her this morning before we went to the races – Nico came and gave her a pop in the indoor school because it has taken her a bit of time to get the hang of it and it did her good actually.

Under Control ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville wins the BetVictor Proud Sponsors Of Newbury Juvenile Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse
Under Control ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville wins the BetVictor Proud Sponsors Of Newbury Juvenile Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse (John Walton/PA)

“She’s not going to go to Cheltenham, but it’s not to say we won’t think about Aintree – mainly because hopefully all the good Irish horses will stay at home and go to Punchestown!

“I’m not saying she’s a superstar because she has got a very long way to go, but it was a very pleasing debut.”

A trip to Merseyside is also on the cards for Ben Pauling’s Twig (4-9 favourite) who dropped back in both grade and trip to record victory in the BetVictor Proud Sponsors Of Newbury Juvenile Hurdle.

“In my eyes he is definitely a three-miler, but the River Don was a really rough race – he was among the thick of it the whole way,” explained Pauling.

“He’s a horse that doesn’t overly love the hustle and bustle of a race like that and he needs to be treated with kid gloves a little bit.

“I was delighted to see him back on track and also see Doncaster hadn’t left a mark. He did it nicely, American Sniper set us a good target and there was going to be no hiding place – I thought Beau (Morgan, jockey) gave him a lovely ride and produced him to win nicely.

“He will probably go to Aintree – whether he runs in the three-mile handicap or the three mile novice (Sefton Novices’ Hurdle) I don’t know yet, but Aintree will probably be his target.”

Emitom made a successful start to life in the care of Alan King in the Play Pick 6 At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle.

Emitom ridden by jockey Tom Cannon on their way to winning the Play Pick 6 at Betvictor Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) at Newbury Racecourse
Emitom ridden by jockey Tom Cannon on their way to winning the Play Pick 6 at Betvictor Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) at Newbury Racecourse (John Walton/PA)

Runner-up in the Sefton and winner of the Rendlesham Hurdle when trained by Warren Greatrex, he had somewhat lost his way of late. But a change of scenery appears to have worked the oracle and the nine-year-old rolled back the years in style to oblige at 100-30 in the hands of Tom Cannon.

“I was delighted today,” said King. “All we have done is give him a change of scenery and freshen him up.

“I thought coming to the races today he would either win or pull up and nothing in between, but he seems to have enjoyed himself.

“There’s no plans, all we’re going to do is go home and regroup – I’m not going to get excited or overface him. It’s great today, but let’s not get carried away.”

There was also a double on the card for jockey Ben Ffrench Davis who took the opening A-Plan Insurance Supporting West Berkshire Mencap Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle aboard Sashenka (4-1) before adding the West Berkshire Mencap Handicap Chase on William de Best-Turner’s Calgary Tiger (13-8 joint favourite).

Favour And Fortune will be given Champion Bumper option

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Alan King will take a patient approach with Favour And Fortune, who remained unbeaten after taking a Warwick bumper with ease on Saturday.

The five-year-old Soldier Of Fortune gelding followed up his impressive Southwell debut success with a seven-and-a-half-length defeat of Alright Dai and could potentially head to the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Running in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, he looked a smart performer under Tom Bellamy and King will consider him for the big National Hunt Flat race on March 15.

“Favour and Fortune will have an entry at Cheltenham and if he didn’t go there, he’d go to Aintree,” said King.

“He is a horse we like a lot. He ran well at Warwick. He is festival bound, but we don’t know where. We will definitely put him in the Champion Bumper.”

Meanwhile, Messire Des Obeaux, who rolled back the years when also scoring at Warwick in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase on the same card, has taken his race well.

The 11-year-old, making his first start for 385 days, had a neck to spare over Knight In Dubai, staying on strongly in the closing stages.

King will be in no rush with him, however. He said: “Messire Des Obeaux will tell me when he’s ready.

“He always takes a wee bit of time to get over a run, so I will just see what there is. Obviously, he needs the weather to change as well. The ground has gone for the minute.

“It was a nice race to win the other day, so there is no panic. Even in his younger days, he always took a few weeks to get over his runs. He puts a lot into it.”

Speaking at Hereford on Wednesday afternoon, King reported Arkle Trophy winner Edwardstone has recovered from a minor setback and is still well on course for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, for which he remains Coral’s 13-8 joint-favourite with Energumene for the March 15 Cheltenham feature.

“Edwardstone is all good,” said King. “He will go back into strong work next week.”

Edwardstone, winner of six of his 11 starts over fences, just failed to catch Editeur Du Gite in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham last month, but King feels that he may have been suffering from a bruised foot during that race.

He added: “He was very lame the next morning, so whether he was feeling it even then. I thought after the last he’d go away and win.

“I was surprised, because usually he finishes a race so well. Look, we’ll see, but he’s fine again anyway.”

Messire Des Obeaux delights connections at Warwick

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Messire Des Obeaux rolled back the years to secure his first victory since January 2021 in a pulsating renewal of the Virgin Bet Warwick Castle Handicap Chase – leg one of an Alan King double at Warwick on Saturday.

Dan Skelton’s Knight In Dubai looked to have slipped clear turning for home but King’s veteran rallied and was keeping on strongly to pull out more and edge his way in front in the dying strides.

A winner of the Grade One Challow Hurdle in his formative years and also a graded scorer over fences, this was a huge step up from the 11-year-old’s reappearance at Wincanton last month, landing the spoils by a neck at 8-1.

“He means a lot to everyone at the yard, they’ve really nursed this horse,” said Anthony Bromley, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

“He’s a bit fragile and even before his novice chase season he’d been off the track for the best part of 1,000 days.

“He’s still got loads of enthusiasm and we still send him down early before his races, just to keep the lid on him. He loves it!

“Kingy has put a lot into this horse, so that meant a lot and it was a big win. There was around £20,000 to the winner there so that pays for around a year of training fees, so it’s a great result.

“He’s going to get hit by the handicapper now because they pulled away from the third, but you can’t plan for this horse. We’ll see how he is in the morning and plan accordingly. We tried three miles as a novice and he didn’t really ever get that, so he’s looking at two and a half miles.

“I’d say the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury may come a little too soon for him, but that would be the kind of race we’d look at. We don’t think Cheltenham would suit as he likes flat tracks – who knows Aintree may suit him.”

In perfect symmetry the Banbury Castle handler bookended the card when also taking the concluding Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race with 2-1 favourite Favour And Fortune.

The five-year-old son of Soldier Of Fortune scorched seven and a half lengths clear of a smart field and winning jockey Tom Cannon believes bigger things lie ahead.

He said: “That was very impressive under a penalty. He put a lot of distance between him and the other horses and it didn’t look a bad bumper on paper so he’s obviously smart and we’re probably looking at bigger and better things now.

Favour And Fortune after winning the bumper at Warwick
Favour And Fortune after winning the bumper at Warwick (PA)

“Whether that is Cheltenham or Aintree, it’s probably either or and he’s probably up to that level. He’s got a good future.”

Hullnback (2-5 favourite) may have booked his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival with an impressive nine-and-a-half-length victory in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Hurdle.

The Fergal O’Brien-trained six-year-old, who is owned by the Hull-based We’re Having A Mare (Wham) syndicate, holds entries in both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Ballymore at the Festival, but assistant trainer Sally Randell is inclined to stay at two miles for the time being.

She said: “We wanted to run in a better race but we couldn’t and we needed to get him out because he’s an absolute handful.

“We just needed a run and he’s done it really impressively. Had he met the last better, he wouldn’t have missed a beat and he hardly came off the bridle.

“We’ve had to make a lot of use of him because of the races he’s been in with there not being a lot of pace but I think in a race with more pace it will make him even better.

“He wants further, but I’m not sure – I’ll have to chat with Paddy (Brennan) and Fergal about that. He’s going to want further but he’s handling two miles and he’s not even having hard races so we’ll see.”

Sheena West’s Mr Freedom (13-2) could also be Festival bound having gamely landed the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle.

“He’s incredible, he’s not very big, but he did it just as well on the Flat the other day,” said West.

“He seems to like a rough race and I’m hoping he will go up enough (in the handicap) to get into the Fred Winter. He likes it the hard way. The more difficult it is the better he is, if it’s easy he loses interest.”

There was also a winner for Tom Lacey when the Jonathan Burke-ridden Imperial Alex (9-4 favourite) made a successful step up in trip in the Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Hurdle.