We’ve enjoyed a lucrative March – is there one more celebration to come?

March 29

Tom Bellamy has enjoyed a fabulous March,  his 18 winners including a first at the Cheltenham Festival, and, while the bookies have scant respect for King Al‘s chance of being number 19 at Ascot today, the four-year-old can boast two wins and two places this season and could outrun his odds in the juvenile hurdle.

Granted, King Al did nit live up to expectations at Warwick three weeks ago, but he was taking on older horses there, whereas he is back racing against horses of the same age.

Choc Thornton, who manages the Apple Tree Stud’s equine team, has always liked King Al, who has shown his versatility by winning twice on the Flat as well as a hurdle race at Ludlow.

We have Stratford bumper winner Galaxy Star making her debut under Rules at Kempton tomorrow, while on Tuesday Saxons Pride attempts to end the month on a high on for Barbury by winning the junior bumper at Bangor. Both look to have each-way claims.

Finally, I can enlighten all website followers by revealing that this will be my final column for Alan King’s successful dual-purpose stable. I have thoroughly enjoyed these past 15 years editing the Barbury website, but, having celebrated my 78th birthday earlier this month, I have decided that the time is right for me to put my feet up, not literally as I plan to cast the net further afield, cruising the world with Gerry, my wife of 47 years, as well as doing my best to help Thatcham Bowls Club continue to climb the table.