Talking Trainers - Part II

ALAN KING - Barbury Castle Stables, Wroughton, Wiltshire

Horses covered: 50

One of the best dual purpose trainers in the business, Alan King tasted more Grade 1 success in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December thanks to stable star and former Cheltenham Festival winner Edwardstone. Major Dundee won the Midlands National at Uttoxeter in the spring and there are high hopes the eight year old can emerge as a live contender for the Grand National at Aintree in April. The yard's 50 winners last term included 8 bumper successes at a strike-rate of 20%. The former assistant to David Nicholson has a noteworthy strike-rate at the following tracks: Bangor 69 winners from 305 runners (23%), Catterick 5 from 7 (71%), Fontwell 66 from 284 (23%), Hexham 6 from 15 (40%) and Plumpton 62 from 214 (29%). 

Alan commented on page 68 re a novice hurdler from Barbury Castle to keep an eye on this term: "A lovely big horse who was still weak last year, I think he will do very well and is an exciting horse to go novice hurdling."

TOM LACEY - Cottage Field Stables Ltd, Sapness Farm, Woolhope, Herefordshire

Horses covered: 22

Sebastopol supplied the Herefordshire trainer with more Graded success at Newbury's Winter Festival in November last year. The yard's 35 winners were achieved at a strike-rate of 17% and it worth noting the stable's runners at Chepstow (21 winners from 92 runners (23%)), Fontwell (5 from 18 (28%)), Huntingdon (15 from 53 (28%)), Lingfield (4 from 11 (36%)) and Warwick (17 from 69 (25%)).

Tom is looking forward to unleashing a lightly raced hurdler over fences saying on page 72: "He has had a good summer and I think he will improve for the switch to fences. A brilliant jumper, he is on a decent mark."

Olly Murphy will be covered in this feature later in the week and Gordon Elliott's former assistant trained his 500th winner at Bangor on Wednesday when Act of Authority made the ideal start to his hurdling career with a fourteen lengths win in second division of the two miles maiden hurdle. The former Irish pointer finished second in a couple of bumpers at Musselburgh and Taunton last season but the Authorized gelding made no mistake here making all and never looking like relinquishing his advantage. I suspect Olly will try and win another ordinary novice under a penalty before looking for something better.