David Nicholson's assistant Alan King was yesterday looking forward to taking over the training operation at Jackdaws Castle next summer.

He will temporarily emerge from his boss's shadow when he assumes command of "three or four horses" set to run from the stable on the Flat, in a move bound to be seen as a steppingstone to his taking over the full licence.

But his name will not appear as a trainer on the race-card and King refused to speculate whether it means he will eventually take over from Nicholson, who said last week he intends training for two or three more years.

"I am very much looking forward to it. We'll have three or four horses and I'll `play around' with them," King said. "I spent last summer with Sir Michael Stoute but obviously I will be under the guidance of the boss."

Asked if his summer stint signalled he was destined to succeed Nicholson, all King would say was: "We'll see how things go."