Heads up and heads down, but King Al pips the favourite by inches to win Newbury’s finale

August 29

Holidaymakers might be cursing the overdue arrival of rain, but, like all trainers, Alan has been desperate to see some of the wet stuff and it certainly helped the cause of King Al, who stayed on in determined fashion in the final furlong to capture the finale at Newbury’s evening yesterday.

The ground was by no means soft at our local course, but from riding fast at the start of the week, the downpours certainly made a difference to underfoot conditions by the time King Al head out for the ‘lucky last’.

Alan knew that would be a bonus to the chance of King Al as it was a mudbath the horse encountered when winning on his racecourse debut at Haydock last back-end.

And, with Rossa Ryan giving 9-1 shot King Al a terrific ride, they had a sustained duel with the 11-4 favourite Sir William throughout the final 300 yards.

It was a real head-bobber as the pair approached the line, but, though it looked as if Sir William had the edge a stride before the winning post and again a stride after, as the two horses crossed the line it was King Al whose head went down and that was the crucial difference. He got the verdict by the shortest of short heads, but having him gelded in June has also helped, so, hopefully, further successes are imminent for King Al, who is doing the Apple Tree Stud proud.