Raymond Tusk takes on Porter prize for Alan King Alan King is among the trainers who are hopeful the dry spring will not be to the detriment of the horses who line up in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes, which kicks off a fascinating eight-race card at Newbury on Saturday. Registered as the John Porter Stakes, the mile-and-a-half contest has attracted a field of seven and all bar two are making their seasonal debuts. Raymond Tusk returns to the scene of his decent runner-up effort to I Am Maximus in a competitive maiden hurdle in December — one of three unsuccessful tilts in that sphere — on the back of a four-length conditions race win at Doncaster last month. The Barbury Castle handler insists the recent outing on the Flat will have done him good. “He didn’t quite take to hurdling this year, although he ran OK,” said King of the seven-year-old, who will again be partnered by Martin Harley. “He looked back to his old self a bit at Doncaster the other day. He seems to be in good form since. “I hope it doesn’t dry up too much for him — good, good to soft would be ideal. It looked the obvious place to go after Doncaster. I think that may have done his confidence a bit of good.”
