ALAN KING
Location: Nr. Swindon, Wiltshire. Alan is a farmer’s son who has nurtured a passion for racing from an early age. As a teenager he went to work at David Nicholson’s CoLocation: Nr. Swindon, Wiltshire. Alan is a farmer’s son who has nurtured a passion for racing from an early age. As a teenager he went to work at David Nicholson’s Condicote yard, where he soon became Assistant, a position Alan would keep until the ‘Duke’s’ retirement 15 years later.
It was in December 1999 that he took out his own licence at Jackdaws Castle, where he trained 31 winners in six months. These included Anzum, who won the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and Relkeel, winner of the Grade 2 Bonusprint Hurdle at Cheltenham. In June 2000 Alan moved to Barbury Castle, which has since been improved and expanded in the quest for more winners. He saddled his first flat winner in 2002, and his dual-purpose option has continued to go from strength to strength.
As well as 16 Cheltenham Festival winners and 16 Aintree Grand National Festival winners, Alan has trained Royal Ascot winners, Glorious Goodwood winners and numerous Heritage Handicap winners. Recent stable star Trueshan flew the flag for the yard for eight years winning seven Group races and over £2,000,000 in prize money. Alan’s remarkable skill as a trainer is not limited to jumpers and stayers as he has also trained Group winning two-year-olds. Visits to the stunning Barbury Castle estate are hugely popular and you can expect a warm welome from Alan and his team.dicote yard, where he soon became Assistant, a position Alan would keep until the ‘Duke’s’ retirement 15 years later.
It was in December 1999 that he took out his own licence at Jackdaws Castle, where he trained 31 winners in six months. These included Anzum, who won the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and Relkeel, winner of the Grade 2 Bonusprint Hurdle at Cheltenham. On 1 June 2000 Alan moved to Barbury Castle, which has since been improved and expanded in the quest for more winners. Since then Alan has trained over thirty Grade One winners and an ever expanding 15 Cheltenham Festival winners.
Alan's big race triumphs include the Champion Hurdle with Katchit, Ryanair Chase with Uxizandre, two Triumph Hurdles with Penzance and Katchit, two Arkle Chases with My Way De Solzen and Voy Por Ustedes, the latter also winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase. On the Flat, Alan has also won Group races and at Royal Ascot!
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing is pleased to have Alan on the roster of trainers as his operation continues to go from strength to strength.