Tom Bellamy has been promoted to number one jockey at Alan King's Barbury Castle stable, taking over from Tom Cannon who had been principal rider since Wayne Hutchinson's retirement in 2019. However, Cannon will continue his association with King and retain the ride on stable star Edwardstone.
King has supplied eight of Bellamy's 16 victories this season and seven of Cannon's 10 successes. Bellamy has partnered four of King's winners in the past fortnight, while Cannon's last win for the yard was aboard Nap Hand at Stratford on July 20.
“We’ve had a bit of a switch round and Tom Bellamy will be riding as our number one jockey,” King said. “Tom Cannon will still be very much part of the team - he’ll still be riding Edwardstone and Harbour Lake and horses like that.”
Edwardstone, an 11-year-old who has won three Grade 1 races under Cannon at two miles, is set to step up in distance this winter. “His pedigree would suggest he is all stamina and there are races like the Peterborough Chase for him,” King added.
Bellamy, 31, has made a strong start to the new jumps season with a 27 per cent strike rate in the past fortnight. He has been associated with King's stable since 2014 and was forced onto the sidelines in April after falling from Broadway Boy in the Grand National.
