Newbury victory: Alan King sees one of his Cheltenham Festival prospects off the mark
It was the first day of Newbury Racecourse's jump season (November 3) and the inauguration of a new fixture for the course - the bet365 Festival Preview Day. And making a mark on the seven race card was Barbury Castle trainer Alan King.
With stable jockey Wayne Hutchinson aboard, six-year-old Dusky Legend was an impressive winner of the £20,000 Whitley Stud Mares' Novices Hurdle which saw eight runners cover the two mile course.
Last March, with a starting price of 50-1, Dusky Legend took second place in the Cheltenham Festival's Trull House Stud Mares Novices Hurdle, four-and-a-half lengths behind the Willie Mullins trained Limini. This was followed by a win at Warwick last May.
Still a novice for this season, Alan King is aiming her again at the Festival's big mares' race - hoping to add her to his score to date of fifteen Festival winners.
Dusky Legend was one of the runners at Newbury not minding the ground - the course had been watered and the going was Good. But King says he will try and avoid running her on soft ground in the run-up to Cheltenham.
Alan King was delighted with her win, but was even more delighted - and relieved - that, following the sale of the Barbury Castle Estate, the new owners have declared that it will be 'business as usual' for the estate's equestrian activities and he can stay on at the Barbury Castle stables he has trained at since 2000.
The first big test of the new season for Alan King will be Smad Place's defence at Newbury on November 26 of his Hennessy Gold Cup crown.
The nine-year-old grey gelding ran at Aintree two weeks ago (October 23.) Giving weight to many of his rivals, he was beaten by a neck into fourth place. But the stable was pleased with his jumping and the way he finished the race.
Dusky Legend with Wayne Hutchinson
Alan King & Wayne Hutchinson at the presentation
After the trace a delighted Alan King talks to reporters