Alan is horrified how the Jockey Club seem to be leaving Kempton out in the cold

December 15

Kempton Park was the first racecourse I attended, going by bicycle with my dad as a 12th birthday present on Easter Saturday 1960. So I can quite understand the horror that Alan felt when he heard the week-end announcement from Jockey Club chief executive Jim Mullen that the Sunbury track’s future was “out of my hands”, having revealed significant investment plans for Aintree and Cheltenham.

Great news for the home of the Grand National and the Gold Cup with “tens of millions of pounds” being promised for the Jockey Club’s two biggest racecourses, while they also plans to spend £6m on Epsom in an attempt to revitalise the Derby meeting.

However, it is crystal clear that the future of Kempton, who next week will stage the King George VI Chase, synonymous with some of the great jumpers of yesteryear, such as Arkle, Desert Orchid, Pendil, Wayward Lad and Kauto Star, remains uncertain.

Kempton has had a black cloud hovering over it since 2017 when there was talk of a partnership with developers Redrow which would lead to the closure of the track, so as to build 3,000 new homes.

And, though the course escaped the axe in 2020 and is very popular with all the top Flat trainers as an all-weather venue, it was significant that Mullen, who only joined the Jockey Club in June, confessed that Redrow “still have the option to develop”, yet stressing that he had not heard of any new concrete plans to do so.

Alan has always been a big supporter of Kempton – Voy Por Ustedes won back-back Desert Orchid Chases there, while Yanworth captured a Christmas Hurdle – and he could not hide his disappointment.

He said:”It does not look good – in fact it looks awful. It seems like Kempton is being left out in the cold, and that is not right. It has always been one of my favourite jumping courses, and we cannot afford to lose it.”

Alan has actually pencilled in The Doyen Chief for one of Kempton’s most important jumps races in February, the Coral Trophy, which used to be  known as the Racing Post Chase.

Reflecting on The Doyen Chief’s gallant fifth behind Irish-trained Blaze The Way at Cheltenham last Friday, Alan said:”He didn’t stay – it’s as simple as that.

“He ran a terrific race and jumped super, but from holding second place over the last fence he found his stamina running out in the last furlong and a half.  Going back to three miles at Kempton should be perfect for him.”

In contrast, Alan was “very disappointed” with Es Perfecto, who trailed in last in the feature race at Cheltenham, the Hunt Family Fund Gold Cup. He added:”Es Perfecto is not putting it in, which is not like him.”

Like all of us, Alan breathed a sign of relief when Castle Carrock climbed to his feet after capsizing at the last flight of the two and a half mile handicap hurdle at Doncaster. “He’s fine, but it was a horrible fall and I am so pleased that he is alright. He would have finished second, but I was just happy to see him get up.”

Highlight of the week-end for Barbury was undoubtedly Blazeon Five, who completed a six week-hat-trick when scoring a fourth success on the all-weather at Southwell on Friday, leaving Rossa Ryan suitably impressed.

Alan said:”Blazeon Five won what was a valuable handicap really well, and I think we’ll keep her on the all-weather for the time being. She might be aimed at a valuable handicap at Newcastle in January.”

Finally, Oykel Bridge caught the eye when coming from off the pace to finish third in the bumper at Warwick last Thursday. “He is a giant of a horse – probably the biggest that I’ve ever trained,” said Alan, adding “we won’t be over-racing him this season, but he is a lovely long-term prospect, and that was a very promising start.”