Alan King

DOB: 1966

Alan King 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 then, 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 aat Cheltenham.

On 1 June 2000 Alan moved to Barbury Castle, which has since been improved and expanded in the quest for more winners. He has also made Barbury Castle into a home for his young family. Alan met his wife, Rachel, when they both worked for the “Duke” and we were married in Antigua in 1998. They now have a son Henry and a daughter Georgia.

King has an excellent record at the Cheltenham Festival, with his biggest wins coming the way of My Way de Solzen in the 2006 World Hurdle, Voy Por Ustedes in the 2007 Queen Mother Champion Chase, Katchit in the 2008 Champion Hurdle, and Oh Crick in the 2009 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.

His principal stable jockey is Robert Thornton.

Cheltenham Festival wins (11):

Irish Independent Arkle: 2006 Voy Por Ustedes, 2007 My Way De Solzen

William Hill: 2004 Fork Lightning

JCB Triumph: 2005 Penzance, 2007 Katchit

Ladbrokes World: 2006 My Way De Solzen

Seasons Holidays Q Mother: 2007 Voy Por Ustedes

Smurfit Kappa Champion: 2008 Katchit

NH Chase: 2008 Old Benny

Albert Bartlett: 2008 Nenuphar Collonges

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual: 2009 Oh Crick