Most horse racing fans will be glued to the Cheltenham Festival this week.
Some even at the expense of work – a feeling Alan Shearer knows all too well. The Premier League legend has owned a couple of runners in his time, one of which clinched an unforgettable victory at Prestbury Park as a 50-1 outsider back in 2005.
Shearer, however, missed the race, as he had the small matter of Newcastle United’s FA Cup fourth round clash with Coventry City to focus on at the time. But eager to get the result as soon as possible, he snuck his phone into the dressing room toilets and stationed his mates in a box at St James’ Park to keep him updated via hand signals and gestures.
“I once had a winner at Cheltenham, not at the Festival, but Trials Day, which was a 50/1 shot,” the 54-year-old told Betfair. “Unfortunately, I was actually playing that day at St James’s Park.
“We had a horse called Akilak and the other owners, my mates, had gone down to watch the horse and half of my other mates were in my box during the game. Before the game, because I knew the race was going to happen during the first-half, I said: ‘When I look up when walking off at half-time, I need you to give me a clue as to whether it’s won or not’.
“I was walking off at half-time, looking at all of my pals in the box and they were all going absolutely berserk, with their arms up in the air. I thought: ‘These idiots are daft, they’re winding me up’.
“But I got into the dressing room, the manager did his team talk, and then I snuck my phone into the toilet to see if I could check on the result! We won the match as well so it was one of the better days. We went out to celebrate both wins afterwards – it was a great day!”
Akilak took part in 63 races, winning 11 of them. He also placed third in the Triumph Hurdle a few weeks after his shock victory on Trials Day in 2005, before eventually retiring in 2011.
Shearer didn’t stay out of the ownership game for long. In 2015, he bought a stake in Augusta Kate, a mare he owned with TV stars and fellow Newcastle fanatics Ant and Dec, as well as golfer Lee Westwood, and businessman Graham Wylie, offering him a route back into the parade ring.
“I’ve been to Cheltenham with Augusta Kate, at the Festival. It was amazing to go into the parade ring, with the other owners and trainers, it was brilliant,” Shearer admitted. “It’s a side you don’t usually see as a punter – it was brilliant to experience.”
The Match of the Day pundit doesn’t have a runner at this year’s Festival, but his name will still make an appearance on Gold Cup day. A horse named Shearer – a nod to the all-time Premier League goalscorer – will be competing in the St James’ Place Festival Hunter Chase, a fitting coincidence.
“There’s a special horse running on Friday, trained by Paul Nicholls, called Shearer – fantastic. I mean, Shearer, running in the St James’, come on!” the Toon legend beamed. “I want to wish everyone the best of luck for Friday. I really hope it goes well, good luck Paul, Olive, and all the connections. It’s won two from two this season and hopefully, it will be three from three.”
The nine-year-old, currently priced at 10/1, will be ridden by Nicholls’ daughter, Olive, and will make its Cheltenham debut in the process.
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