Local success in 2018-2019 jump season
Once again the 2018-2019 jump racing season was a tussle between the big two - Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls and former Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson with Dan Skelton snapping at their heels.
The Championship rankings for 2018-2019 show it was an excellent season for local trainers. Barbury Castle’s dual-purpose trainer Alan King took eighth place in the rankings - and coincidentally his mainstay jockey Wayne Hutchinson was at eighth place in the jockeys' table.
Emma Lavelle who trains at Ogbourne Maizey was delighted to be in sixteenth position - partly due to the amazing successes of Paisley Park.
Neil King, who trains at Burderop on the other side of the downs from Alan King, came in at 32nd place. He has a smaller yard than the other two local jump trainers, and has had a record year as regards winners (40) and prize money.
The Championship table is based on total prize money - winners and placed horses. So although Nicholls won with £3,307,573 with 135 winners, Henderson’s £2,908,481 came with 141 winners.
And Nicholls’ former assistant trainer, Dan Skelton’s £2,301,456 came with 205 winners from an astonishing 988 runners. Though it is the races with major prize money that count most, the 2019-2020 season that has just started may become a three trainer race.