Alan King really is back racing – and with a winner at Doncaster

After a long lay-off due to a bug that affected horses at his Barbury yard, trainer Alan King not only got back to racing on Saturday (January 25), but had a winner – his first of the year.

‘Choc’ Thornton rode seven-year-old Valdez to a three-and-a-quarter length victory in Doncaster’s Grade 2 Lightning Novices Chase.

After all the rain, the going was pretty wet.  In Alan King’s words: “You don’t often see Doncaster ride as soft as that, and I think Valdez will be more effective on better ground.”

“But I was just glad to get him back. He was only just ready to run after all our hold-ups, but he has gone and done the job well and it will be Cheltenham next stop.”

King confirmed that Valdez will run at the Cheltenham Festival’s Racing Post Arkle Chase.  And if you hurry you can get odds of 14-1 for Valdez in that Grade 1 Cheltenham race.

It is worth noting remarks on a racing blog congratulating Thornton for his ride on Valdez –a ride he completed without resorting to the whip.