Did Alan King once train at Jackdaws Castle?
The short answer is yes, he did. Since June 1, 2000, Alan King has been based at the purpose-built Barbury Castle Stables in Wroughton, Wiltshire, which were formerly occupied by Mikie Heaton-Ellis, prior to his untimely death, aged 41, in August 1999. However, South Lanarkshire-born King began his career in racing working for John Wilson at Cree Stables in 1984, before heading south to Condicote, Gloucestershire, on the advice of Wilson, to join David Nicholson as a stable lad a year later.
The following year, 1986, King was promoted to assistant trainer to Nicholson and would retain that position until ‘The Duke’ retired from the training ranks in 1999. In 1992, Nicholson accepted a salaried position at Jackdaws Castle, a luxurious training establishment in nearby Temple Guiting, built, with his help, by millionaire property developer Colin Smith. With King at his side, Nicholson enjoyed the most successful years of his career, winning the National Hunt Trainers’ Championship twice, in 1993/94 and 1994/95.
When Nicholson retired, King took over the licence at Jackdaws Castle and saddled his first winner in his own right, Mini Moo Min, in a novices’ hurdle at Towcester on December 4, 1999. Two weeks later he saddled his first Grade 1 winner, Anzum, in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. By that stage, though, Colin Smith had already confirmed that it would be Richard Phillips, rather than King, who would become the long-term replacement for Nicholson at Jackdaws Castle.