Racing: King groomed for the top

DAVID Nicholson's long-time right-hand man Alan King has emerged as short-priced favourite to take over the reins from The Duke - he is set to train a number of Flat horses from Jackdaws Castle this summer.

However, the yard's owner Colin Smith insists that any change at the top is still some way off.

"This is the first step in the grooming of Alan to be handed the day- to-day running when The Duke decides to leave but that is not likely to be for a couple of years and Alan is not to take over from David at present," said Smith.

"But he is going to independently train a few Flat horses at Jackdaws Castle, including one I own, this summer. He will be in charge of this side of the operation though the licence will be in David's name, and I have made that plain to David."

Millionaire businessman Smith is a stickler for loyalty and emerged from last week's Adrian Maguire affair with flying colours, earning plenty of respect from the jump racing world for his candid approach.

And Alan King is well aware that he, too, can look forward to that degree of loyalty when he eventually becomes King of the Castle.

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