King Charles urged to go public with new Royal role next month – 42 years after his ‘silent despair’

KING Charles has been urged to go public with his new Royal role as head of the family's multi-million pound racing operation at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Charles famously rode in the Kim Muir race as an amateur jockey in 1981 - just four months before he married Diana.

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But he was left in 'silent despair' after falling from his mount Good Prospect at the tenth fence.

Video showed him banging the turf and muttering 'bloody hell' after being unseated.

Some 42 years on he is in charge of his late mother's yard after inheriting it following her passing aged 96 last September.

Since assuming the role, Charles has sold 14 of the late Queen's horses for more than £1million and looked to slim down the vast operation.

But he has kept on some of her more promising runners, including eight-year-old gelding Steal A March.

The late Queen always sent her jumps horses to famed Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson.

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And Steal A March, who was bred by her late Majesty and has career earnings of more than £40,000, is no different.

The horse is being aimed at the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle on Thursday, March 16 - and is currently 20-1 to win.

Cheltenham will be flooded with the Irish coming over for their pilgrimage to the home of National Hunt racing that day - which comes the day before St Patrick’s Day but will be known as St Patrick’s Thursday.

Henderson wants to see two Royal guests there in particular, too.

Speaking of his association with The King and Steal A March, Henderson said: "He won at Worcester on Derby Day last year, which was very special as it was on Jubilee weekend.

"We were all trying to get winners that weekend for The Queen.

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"The Queen Consort has had horses of her own before, but I think he was The King’s first jumps winner. He’s improved a fair bit all of a sudden.

"We’ve got quite a strong team for the race to be fair, but I was impressed with Steal A March the last time.

"It would be nice to have him run - it would be very nice to have him win of course – but it would be lovely if they could come to watch.

"It would be good for racing."

Camilla, who is it assumed will take charge of the Royal racing operation, has been spotted at Ascot since the late Queen's death.

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She attended Champions Day last October.

But it is believed Charles - who recently ripped up the Royal racing rule book by hiring a brand new trainer - has not been seen on a racecourse since going to last year's Royal Ascot.

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