I would love to be able to find the first 5 horses to cross the line in the Triumph hurdle. It probably won't happen this year, or any year, but there is no doubt that the Juvenile hurdle division is where the majority of interest in French recruits comes from. However, it's not all about winning as a 4-year-old and there are plenty of well-bred French horses who simply need more time. Royal King is a great example of that. He is due to make his debut for Tom Ellis in a novice hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee later. He won't win this race, but in time, he is going to be a very well handicapped horse when he returns to the larger obstacles.
ROYAL KING
4YO Gelding
Saint des Saints x Anaqueen (Martaline)
4th Foal. Half-Brother to French Hurdle/Chase winner Kapking (124). Dam winning Chaser, Half-Sister to G1 placed, G3 Chase winner Saint Palois and Italian G1 winner Anaking.
Form: 7P245F €13,245 career earnings.
New Connections: H, Tom Ellis, Will Simpson
Notes: 4YO Gelding. Not disgraced when 7th on debut at Auteuil in March (Kilgame 2nd, G1 winner Kolociko 4th). Sent Chasing a month later, finishing 2nd to Lapsus at La Roche-Sur-Yon in April. Winner boosted this form by winning his next 3 starts. Pair dominated the race in front and there were 15-lengths back to the 3rd placed Kelibia, who won her next start at Dieppe too.
Followed this run with career best 4th in €63k Handicap Chase at Auteuil, beaten 3-lengths and ran to a similar level when 5th in the same grade in June. The French handicapper allocated a rating of 56-kilos (112) which perhaps slightly underestimates him, though worth noting that he has only run in 4-year-old company
Misjudged the big open ditch (5th last) when diving through it and coming down on latest start in June, though worth noting that he wasn’t beaten at the time.
Surely bought with mid to long distance handicap chases in mind. Shapes well and generally jumps fluently. Remains a novice in both codes. Certainly fair value for a mark of 112, but unlikely to win in novice company and a longer term handicap prospect.
Key Races
Comments