Alan King must be floating on air after Trueshan’s remarkable weight-carrying success in last weekend’s Northumberland Plate, and the Wiltshire-based handler aims to keep his form going with a quintet of runners across Thursday’s cards – which make up into a 7,496/1 five-timer. We’ve assessed the chance of his runners below, which comes alongside SBK‘s new customer offer of £30 in Free Bets when you deposit £10.
SARSEN – (1:40 Perth, Generate Income From Horizon Parking Maiden Hurdle) 5/1
Alan King’s first runner on Thursday comes in Perth’s opening 2m4f maiden hurdle where he sends out SARSEN.
This Elite Racing-owned 4yo cut little ice in three bumper starts last season (albeit bumped into the subsequent Cheltenham Champion Bumper sixth on debut), but he improved for the switch to hurdles when runner-up at Uttoxeter earlier this month.
He didn’t hurdle all that fluently that day and was the first horse off the bridle, so it was encouraging to see him hit the line strongly – ultimately finishing just a length and a half behind the winner Halligator. Stepping up to 2m4f looks a likely plus on that evidence, and being a 4yo he receives 6lb from the majority of these rivals. If he brushes up on his jumping, he should be thereabouts at the business end.
TUDDENHAM GREEN – (2:00 Haydock, Selecta Systems 40th Anniversary Handicap) 15/2
Alan King and owners Isaac Souede and Simon Munir are best known for their exploits with smart hurdler/chaser Sceau Royal, but the partnership team up with a runner on Haydock’s seven-race Thursday Flat card with TUDDENHAM GREEN.
This 3yo son of Nathaniel made three starts as a juvenile in 2021, recording progressive RPRs on each occasion, culminating in a Lingfield fourth back in November.
Off the track since, Tuddenham Green steps up markedly in trip for his seasonal/handicap debut, which looks a likely plus on pedigree (dam Social Media a 2m all-weather winner), and James Doyle is enlisted to do the steering.
The form of that Lingfield maiden fourth has worked out very well (winner now rated 92, second 87) and that result suggests Tuddenham Green could be let in lightly here off an opening mark of 69. Watch the market for clues on what to expect.
GRISBI DE BERCE – (2:40 Perth, Secure Air Parks Edinburgh Airport Parking Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase) 6/1
The second of Alan King’s two runners on Perth’s Thursday card comes in their 2m4f novices’ handicap chase, where he sends out GRISBI DE BERCE.
This 6yo was a Huntingdon novice hurdle winner earlier in his career, and he gained his first win since when justifying 5/4 favouritism to make a winning chase debut at Huntingdon in May. Sent off an even shorter price (5/6F) to follow up at Cartmel next time, Grisbi De Berce could only finish third there, not looking at home over the unconventional track.
A return to a more straightforward circuit will suit here, and a mark of 125 is unlikely to prove the ceiling of his ability, so it’d be no shock to see a much-improved showing.
PARADIAS – (4:00 Haydock, Stay Cool With Pilkington Suncool Handicap) 6/1
Haydock’s closing 1m2f 3yos handicap looks like a competitive affair, and Alan King’s PARADIAS is one of the runners holding a live chance.
This Kodiac colt had a couple of near-misses earlier this season, and he deservedly got his head in front at Yarmouth three weeks ago, making all of the running to pull clear for a length success.
The handicapper has put Paradias up 4lb for that victory, which looks fair, and it was encouraging to see the second (Land Of Eagles) come out and frank the form by scoring on his next start.
This represents a step up in class for Paradias, but this small field should allow him to dominate once again, and if he is let loose on the front end he could prove difficult to peg back.
ADMIRALTY HOUSE – (7:38 Newbury, Punter Southall Handicap) 2/1
Alan King makes the journey over to Newbury with just the sole runner on Thursday in the shape of ADMIRALTY HOUSE.
This 55,000 guineas Breeze-Up buy has shown clear ability without getting his head in front in all three starts to date, putting up a career-best on the figures when runner-up in a Salisbury maiden just over three weeks ago.
Admiralty House still appears to be learning on the job, so that experience won’t have been lost on him, and the handicapper could have let him in lightly here off an opening handicap mark of 79.
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