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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Melissa Jones

Richard Hammond in top gear for Cheltenham with horse that gave him first ever winning bet

Richard Hammond is racing to Cheltenham with a horse that give him his first ever winning bet.

The Grand Tour host, 52, will be watching fast-paced action of the sporting kind when Farinet heads to the home of the Gold Cup.

And chances are high that the TV star will be celebrating again, as the grey is favourite with the bookies.

The sponsors are offering odds of 9-2 ahead of the Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase.

The race is worth just over £56,000 to connections of the winning horse at Saturday's meeting, a trials event for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

Hammond has been spotted at the big fixture in the past with his wife Mindy, one of the co-owners of Farinet.

Earlier this month the smartly dressed couple were at Sandown to watch the horse win a race with an £8,000 first prize.

Hammond revealed his excitement at striking a successful wager on the 5-4 favourite, a comfortable five-and-a-half length scorer with jockey Charlie Deutsch taking the reins.

Farinet is one of the favourites for Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham (PA)

“I did have a bet and it was the first bet that I’ve ever won!" the former Top Gear celebrity said via Racing TV.

“We come racing a lot. Generally speaking, I’m scratching my head trying to work out how it all works.

“But on this occasion, I just put it to win on our horse.”

Farinet hails from Venetia Williams' stable, currently winning with 30 per cent of their horses on figures for the past fortnight.

The progressive seven-year-old has had just four starts for her operation after being sourced from trainer Yannick Fouin in France.

The Grand Tour presenter Richard Hammond and his wife Mindy at Cheltenham races in December 2021 (David Hartley/REX/Shutterstock)

He started the career of Min, a seven-time Grade 1 winner who struck at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.

The meeting may come next if Farinet justifies his market position on a quality card, featuring JP McManus' classy pair Champ and Chantry House.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Richard Hammond Is a firm favourite of many horsepower fans, but not typically those of the equine variety and it’s great to see him and wife Mindy have one of the leading fancies for our Cheltenham Countdown Podcast race.

“It’s not inconceivable that Farinet will win again after the burst of acceleration he exhibited at Sandown last time that would have had Jeremy Clarkson drooling and hopefully Richard will be doffing his hat to his legions of fans in the hallowed winner’s enclosure after the contest.”

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