Insanity returns to Ascot again for what would be a fairytale success

Alan does not often have a runner at the Shergar Cup meeting, but he sends Insanity back to Ascot tomorrow for the mile and a half handicap, and he will doubtless be chuffed to bits to have drawn Rachel King to ride.

No, Insanity will not be ridden by Alan’s wife (also named Rachel). Instead, the mount goes to 34-year-old Rachel King, who is now riding successfully in Australia but worked for Alan for five or six years before she headed Down Under.

Rachel, who had two rides at Royal Ascot this year, came back to Britain in June to get married and, having picked up that brace at the Royal meeting, she was delighted to finish second on Strutting in the Sandringham Handicap.

Reflecting both on her success in Aussie and on her time with Alan, Rachel, who has been appointed captain of the Rest of the World team, said:”I’ve been Down Under for the last 10 years and was crowned champion apprentice in the 2016-17 season, since when I’ve managed to ride five G1 winners.

“I was never able to get into a proper rhythm in Britain when i was here last time, so it’s nice to come back established with a bit of a name behind me. I have to be back in Australia on Wednesday, but, though I have ridden in similar jockeys challenge competitions in Japan and Hong Kong in the last 12 months, this is the one I’ve always wanted to do.

“I am very excited, but maybe not quite as excited as my dad, who has a coach load of people coming with him. It is very special being able to team up again with Alan as he was my first proper boss in racing. I remember when I first went there and told him that I wanted to be  jump jockey. He looked at the size of me and thought I was mad. It will be a big occasion to ride for him again.

“Ironically, I used to get asked a lot if I was Alan’s daughter and one person even asked me if I was his grand-daughter, which left Alan quite offended.

“He was happier with the daughter thing  and he put me up a lot in lady amateur races, both Flat and jumps, and he was really supportive. I learned so much there from people like Choc Thornton and Wayne Hutchinson, and it was an incredible place to work. It would be the icing on the cake if I could sign off with a winner for Alan on Insanity.”

And Insanity must have a first-rate chance, too. He is a lightly-raced four-year-old, who looked all over the winner when he struck the front in the last 150 yards here at last month’s King George meeting, only to be mugged close home by the younger Mount Atlas, who was receiving 12lb.

That was Insanity’s first race since he won at Windsor in April, so he might be a little bit sharper here and he should give Rachel a super ride.