A VILLAGE near Andover is becoming the focus of the horse racing world, as King Charles continues his mother's legacy by sending four of Queen Elizabeth II's horses to an Andover trainer.

Flat racing expert Ralph Beckett, who has a horse training facility at Kimpton Down near Andover, has been asked to take charge of training four juveniles for the upcoming racing season in March.

All four horses were bred at the Royal Stud in Sandringham and have a prestigious lineage, according to the Racing Post.

One of the horses is the sister of the late Queen's sprinter King's Lynn, which won the Group 2 Temple Stakes after taking part in the King's Stand Stakes at Ascot last year.

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Another horse is the half-sister of Diploma, who was trained by the late Queen's long-term trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

Mr Beckett was first hired by King Charles in 2008.

Andover Advertiser: Ralph BeckettRalph Beckett (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "When he told me the plan, I did a double-take. It’s a real honour and very exciting."

Last year, the King sold off 14 of the Queen's horses at auction for a total of £1m, with a royal source confirming his plans to reduce the royal racing stock.

However, the connection between the family and the horse-racing industry will continue, with the desire to continue with the traditions and connections with Royal Ascot, but not on the same scale as the late Queen.