The Steeple Times

Category: Heroes & Heroines

  • Runners & Riders – The Cheltenham Festival 2023, Day 4, ‘Gold Cup Day’

    Runners & Riders – The Cheltenham Festival 2023, Day 4, ‘Gold Cup Day’

    ‘The Steeple Times’ examines the tipsters’ selections and offers options for ‘Gold Cup Day’ at the Cheltenham Festival 2023 including a 20/1 outsider owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and a 50/1 wildcard

    The Cheltenham Festival 2023 has flown by and yesterday one “brave punter” scooped £50,000 from a £1 each-way 5-fold accumulator after backing the first four winners of the day; a genuine example of a ‘lucky geezer’ and no doubt someone who had a gin or ten last night.

     

    Yesterday, The Steeple Times didn’t do too shabbily either and from our selection we got 1st places for Stage Star at 19/2 and Good Time Jonny at 11/1 giving us success in two out of three of the races we provided tips for.

     

    Today, with what John Hunt described on Radio 4 Today this morning as the “absolute cracker” of the Gold Cup on the cards (3.30pm), we’re hoping for further joy on ‘Gold Cup Day’ and are looking at EACH WAY BETS as follow:

     

    1.30pm Cheltenham – JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 179y, 8 hurdles (15 runners, 3 places)

    Trainer Willie Mullins has an astonishing SEVEN horses out of the fifteen in this race on his books and has the “stranglehold” on the contest as At The Races points out, but the one we’re rooting for is:

     

    Mark Walsh – W. P. Mullins combo Zenta at 10/1 (The Sun ‘Fiver Flutter Longshot’, Daily Mail ‘Live Outsider’)

    • The Sun suggests: “Good win in a Grade 3 on debut for Willie Mullins and has a lot more to come over a trip that suits.”
    • At The Races adds: “Three lengths separated French recruits Zenta (first) and Hypotenus (second) when they met in a Fairyhouse Grade 3 and both are open to improvement.”
    • Daily Mail observes: “Zenta created a good impression on her Irish bow, hacking up at Fairyhouse to book her place in the field.”
    • Racing Post less enthusiastic: “Went past Hypotenus in Fairyhouse Grade 3 before bad mistakes at the last two flights.”

     

    At shorter odds, we’ll add the Mullins double Blood Destiny at 5/2 to our card (Racing Post, GG.co.uk, SPOTLIGHT, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Daily Mail ‘Mick Fitzgerald’, ‘Robin Goodfellow’ and ‘Ruby Walsh’, Daily Express, The Sun)

    • Racing Post observes: “This is probably between the three market leaders, with BLOOD DESTINY preferred to Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau… His jumping has not been the most fluent but he looks a high-class prospect.”
    • Mick Fitzgerald for Daily Mail states: “I was really taken with BLOOD DESTINY when he won at Cork. Paul Townend has opted to ride Lossiemouth after an unlucky run at Leopardstown but it must have been a tough choice.”
    • Ruby Walsh for Daily Mail adds: “The softer it gets the bigger chance that gives BLOOD DESTINY. It’ll definitely suit if the going is heavy.”
    • Robin Goodfellow for Daily Mail concludes: “Willie Mullins does not have the best success rate in this event, but he won it last year and has a strong hand again with three strong contenders and a lightly raced stablemate completing a powerful assemble. Blood Destiny narrowly gains the nod over talented filly Lossiemouth as he could barely have been any more impressive at Fairyhouse on his second start in Ireland. That form has already worked out brilliantly with fifth-home Jazzy Matty lifting the Boodles Handicap earlier in the week and Nusret (third) landing the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton.”

     

    Going for a total ‘wildcard,’ we’ll also take a small punt on Jipcot at 50/1 (WEST COUNTRY)

    • Racing Post remarks: “Won twice when back over hurdles at Pau (2m1f, very soft) last month, well on top.”

     

    Cheltenham Festival 2023 attendance down
    This morning, the ‘Daily Mail’ suggested the attendance figures for the Cheltenham Festival 2023 “make grim reading.” In spite of the decision to cap daily attendance at 68,500, only 50,387 fans “rocked up” on day three – down 14,044 on last year. Uncertainty over public transport and the cost of living crisis are being blamed as the “obvious factors.”
    Sir Alex Ferguson Protektorat
    This morning, ‘Business Plus’ declared: “Alex Ferguson’s Protektorat represents, once again, the Scots best chance of tasting glory in Cheltenham’s biggest race.”

    2.10pm Cheltenham – McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 2m 179y, 8 hurdles (23 runners, 6 places with Ladbrokes ‘The Grid’)

    Though many are favouring Filey Bay at 6/1, our ‘sensible selection’ is the Skelton double Pembroke at 11/2 from 5/1 earlier (Radio 4, The Times, Daily Star, Daily Record, Daily Mail ‘Jane Mangan’)

    • Dave Randall for Racing Post muses: “Dan Skelton has won the County Hurdle three times in the last ten runnings and Pembroke is another suitable candidate. The six-year-old ran out an impressive winner of a Ludlow novice hurdle in December and he finished a good second in a Grade 2 novice event over 2m4½f at Cheltenham on Trials day in January. Considering the speed he showed at Ludlow, the drop to 2m1f on this handicap debut should suit. Ground conditions are suitable and he looks sure to run well from an exploitable opening mark of 136.”
    • Jane Mangan for Daily Mail offers: “Just the 26 runners but I fancy Dan Skelton to continue his brilliant record in this race courtesy of PEMBROKE. He could be well handicapped.”
    • Racing Post remarks: “Novice; could be suited by strongly run race at this trip; yard has done well in this race.”

     

    Also in the same race, Jonathan Burke – Harry Fry combo Gin Coco at 10/1 (Racing Post ‘West Country NAP’, TOPSPEED, At The Races ‘Top Tip’)

    • James Stevens for Racing Post remarks: “Fine second here in the Greatwood, will handle conditions and can continue to improve.”
    • Racing Post adds: “Clear second in the Greatwood last November and could be in the mix on first run since.”
    • At The Races enthuses: “GIN COCO shades the verdict. An exposed seven-year-old with a nice weight on his back, he has been kept fresh for this assignment following a cracking runner-up effort in the Greatwood here in November and still looks nicely treated off a mark of 135. Pembroke drops in trip and could make his presence felt.”

     

    Also in the same race, Nico de Boinville – Nicky Henderson combo First Street at 12/1 (LAMBOURN, Daily Mail, SPOTLIGHT, Racing Post)

    • Racing Post muses: “This could go to FIRST STREET who was a fine second to State Man in this race last year. Magnor Glory is second choice… Second in this last year; below par last time but has had wind op since; one to consider.”

     

    3.30pm Cheltenham – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) – 3m 2f  70y, 22 fences(13 runners, 3 places)

    Speaking on Radio 4 Today this morning, Mick Fitzgerald declared: “There’s something very special about Cheltenham, but there’s something even more special about Gold Cup Day… This is a really deep race.”

     

    Analysing the prospects, Ruby Walsh, writing in the Daily Mail, is of the view: “GALOPIN DES CHAMPS all day, every day and I would love to be riding him” and most tipsters agree with him. However, we shall take a risk on:

     

    Rachael Blackmore – Henry De Bromhead combo A Plus Tard at 19/4 from 9/2 earlier (Guardian NAP, Daily Mail ‘Mick Fitzgerald’ and ‘Marcus Townend’, Racing Post ‘Handicappers’ NAP’, TOPSPEED, Daily Express, The Sun, Daily Star, RP Ratings)

    • Trainer Henry De Bromhead: “He was hugely impressive last year but this season we sadly haven’t had as good a prep. We would obviously have liked another run under our belts but we’re really happy with him now. If he can reproduce that form from last year he should be bang there.”
    • At The Races suggests: “A Plus Tard arrives on something of a retrieval mission following a disappointing run in the Betfair Chase, but he was scintillating in this last year and won’t relinquish his crown without a fight.”
    • Steve Mason for Racing Post offers: “Not seen since pulling up on his Haydock reappearance in November, but posted a huge figure when bolting up in this race last year and looks worth chancing at his forecast odds.”
    • Racing Post adds: “Sprinted up the hill for a brilliant win in this last year; had interrupted prep this time.”
    • Mick Fitzgerald for Daily Mail muses: “I’m willing to trust that trainer Henry De Bromhead will have A PLUS TARD ready to go after a disappointing season. Last year’s Gold Cup winner could be the forgotten horse in the race.” On Radio 4, he added: “You write him off at your peril… I’m looking for him to bounce back.”

     

    Also in the same race, we’d love to see success for the Sir Alex Ferguson owned, Skelton double Protektorat at 20/1 from 18/1 earlier (The Sun ‘Fiver Flutter’)

    • Racing Post remarks: “Third in this last year; impressive at Haydock in November; lesser effort back here since.”
    • The Sun says: “Better than we saw in the Cotswold Chase here last time when trainer Dan Skelton says he didn’t have him fit enough.”

     

    Also in the same race, our ‘wildcard’ is Sounds Russian at 45/1 from 28/1 earlier (Daily Mail ‘Paddy Power’)

    • Paddy Power for Daily Mail enthuse: “SOUNDS RUSSIAN has improved with every start this season and he looks to have decent each-way claims at a huge price.”
    • Racing Post less enthusiastic: “Has improved; divided Ahoy Senor and Noble Yeats here latest; needs more at the weights.”

     

    SUMMARY – Our choices and options for ‘doing a double’

    As ever, we offer something for everyone and be you a ‘Safe Steven’ or a ‘Wild William,’ here are our selections:

     

    1.30pm – Selection: Blood Destiny; Outsider: Zenta; Wildcard: Jipcot.

     

    2.10pm – Selection: Pembroke; Outsiders: First Street and Gin Coco.

     

    3.30pm – Selection: A Plus Tard; Outsider: Protektorat; Wilder Than Wild Wildcard: Sounds Russian.

     

    DOING A DOUBLE ON GOLD CUP DAY

    Selection: Each way double on Blood Destiny (1.30pm) and A Plus Tard (3.30pm) at 18.25/1.

     

    Wildcard Selection: Each way double on Pembroke (2.10pm) and A Plus Tard (3.30pm) at 36.37/1.

     

    Happy racing and don’t forget to join in and ‘ROAR’ – even if watching at home on ITV Racing.

     

    Editor’s Note – Unlike as is the case in many publications, this article was NOT sponsored or supported by a third-party.

     

    To join our racing followers – who receive a FREE tipping service occasionally by email – please send your relevant details to [email protected].

     

    Stage Star Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
    Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden had much deserved success with Stage Star in the Turners Novices Chase yesterday. Of the win, for ‘The Guardian,’ Paul Nicholls observed: “Booted home after a fine frontrunning ride by Harry Cobden, he prompted a flurry of exultant fist-pumps and West Country whooping from the horse’s clearly delighted whisperer.”
    Good Time Jonny
    Good Time Jonny stormed ahead of the pack yesterday and won the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at odds of 9/1.
  • Runners & Riders – The Cheltenham Festival 2023, Day 3, ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’

    Runners & Riders – The Cheltenham Festival 2023, Day 3, ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’

    ‘The Steeple Times’ examines the tipsters’ selections and offers options for ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’ at the Cheltenham Festival 2023 including an 18/1 outsider

    Yesterday, on a day of surprises at the Cheltenham Festival 2023, we scored each-way successes with a 2nd for Galvin at 11/4, a 3rd for Champ Kiely at 8/1 and a 1st for a late addition in the form of the rather marvelously named The Real Whacker at 8/1 also.

     

    The might of the Nico de Boinville – Nicky Henderson combo with Shiskhin at 4/5 will be hard to beat in the Ryanair Chase (2.50pm) today, but that, in our view, is just one to watch. Instead, with still soft ground on ‘St Patrick’s Thursday,’ we’re going with EACH WAY BETS on:

     

    1.30pm Cheltenham – ‘The Golden Miller’ Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 3f 168y, 16 fences (9 runners, 3 places)

    The Davy Russell – Gordon Elliott combo Mighty Potter at 10/11 is the ‘obvious option’ here and has been widely backed, but others to look at are:

     

    Paul Townend – W. P. Mullins combo Appreciate It at 7/2 from 10/3 earlier (Daily Mail ‘Ruby Walsh’ and ‘Main Danger’, The Sun ‘Fiver Flutter’, At The Races ‘Watch Out For’, Daily Telegraph, Daily Star, Daily Record, Daily Express)

    • The Sun says: “Good effort in Grade 1 company last time on the back of an easy novice win. Has run well at the past two Festivals.”
    • Ruby Walsh for Daily Mail says: “I won’t be surprised if Appreciate It (each-way) turns up and gives MIGHTY POTTER a big fright. It looks a match and I’ll even go for the forecast of Mighty Potter to beat Appreciate It.”
    • Racing Post muses: “Put in his place in 2m1f Grade 1 novice latest but now looks ready for return to further.”
    • At The Races offers: “Appreciate It tasted his first defeat over fences when weakening into third in the Irish Arkle, but the 2021 Supreme winner is feared most now upped to 2m4f for the first time over obstacles. He had no problem winning a NH Flat race over this trip back in 2019 and this stiffer test could unlock some improvement.”

     

    Also in the same race, Harry Cobden – Paul Nicholls combo Stage Star at 19/2 from 9/1 earlier (Racing Post, Daily Mail ‘Peter Scudamore’, SPOTLIGHT, TOPSPEED, POSTDATA, WEST COUNTRY)

    • Racing Post remarks: “Red-hot favourite Mighty Potter has to be the starting point but STAGE STAR was poetry in motion in a C&D handicap last time… On his way up and a serious contender judged on his smooth win in C&D handicap last time.”
    • At The Races adds: “Stage Star was impressive on his handicap debut over an extended 2m4f on Trials Day.”

     

    Tony Bloom Energumene
    Bloom Blossoms – Brighton F.C. chairman Tony Bloom celebrated yesterday after his horse, Energumene, won. He had placed £600,000 on his 6/5 winning favourite and won £830,000 as a result as well as a share of the £225,080 prize money. Later in the day, his team beat Crystal Palace.

    2.10pm Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 2m 7f 213y, 12 hurdles (23 runners, 6 places with Ladbrokes ‘The Grid’)

    Ruby Walsh is quite clear in his view of this race. Writing in the Daily Mail, the legend shares: “I have no opinion here and I’m not going to give you a horse for the sake of giving you a horse. Let’s move on.”

     

    However, in this crowded field, the obvious option shining through is the Mark Walsh – David Pipe combo Thanksforthehelp at 17/4 from 4/1 earlier (Racing Post, GG.co.uk, SPOTLIGHT, RP Ratings, WEST COUNTRY, Daily Express, Mirror, Daily Star, Daily Record, Independent.ie)

    • Racing Post remarks: “Walking On Air and The Bosses Oscar are respected but THANKSFORTHEHELP was scintillating when upped in trip at Chepstow… Had wind op; toyed with rivals on step up to 2m7f at Chepstow; 11lb rise may not stop him.”

     

    Liam McKenna – A. J. Martin combo Good Time Jonny at 11/1 from 9/1 earlier (The Sun ‘Fiver Flutter’, Daily Telegraph, Stephen R. Power, Daily Mail ‘Marcus Townend’)

    • The Sun suggests: “Has been aimed at this by canny trainer and has proven form in a big field. Will be happy going back up in distance.
    • Racing Post less enthusiastic: “Stout stayer at 3m; mighty task against Maxxum sole 3m start this winter; tough assignment.”

     

    Sam Twiston-Davies – Nicky Henderson combo Captain Morgs at 18/1 from 16/1 earlier (Daily Mail ‘Mick Fitzgerald’)

    • Mick Fitzgerald for Daily Mail enthuses: “The faster they go the better he looks and CAPTAIN MORGS has winning form at the track. He looks a good each-way play.”
    • At The Races offers: “Captain Morgs struck over C&D in December and could be good value to at least make the frame.”
    • Racing Post remarks: “Put on a good spurt when winning first attempt at 3m; up 7lb but unexposed at the trip.”

     

    Ben Harvey – Gordon Elliott combo The Bosses Oscar at 11/1 (Stephen R. Power)

    • Racing Post muses: “Strong Festival record; back to form latest; 6lb lower than when 2nd in this race in 2021.”
    • ie shares: “The Bosses Oscar boasts strong Festival form and was second in this in 2021.”
    • At The Races adds: “The Bosses Oscar was third in a qualifier at Musselburgh on his return from a break and can be fancied to strip a lot sharper.”

     

    3.30pm Cheltenham – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 7f 213y, 12 hurdles (11 runners, 3 places)

    The Racing Post is clear and states: “On form there is no standout candidate” here, but the obvious battle is between the Davy Russell – Gordon Elliott combo Teahupoo at 5/2 (Radio 4, Stephen Power, Daily Mail ‘Lizzie Kelly’, RP Ratings, The Sun) and the Byrnes double Blazing Khal at 10/3 from 7/2 earlier (Daily Mail ‘Captain Heath Trio’ NAP, GG.co.uk, Paddy Power, Sporting Life, POSTDATA, Daily Express, Daily Telegraph). We’ll go with the latter.

    • Racing Post remarks: “Defied long absence in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle and has the potential to be a major player.”
    • Paddy Power adds: “If BLAZING KHAL is 100 per cent here I fully expect him to take all the beating.”

     

    At bigger odds, we’re looking at the Johnny Charron – Gabriel Leenders combo Gold Tweet at 9/1 from 11/1 earlier (The Sun ‘Longshot’, Daily Mail ‘Main Danger’, The Times)

    • The Sun says: “Came over from France to win the Cleeve Hurdle ahead of Paisley Park last time and has been overpriced by the bookies.”
    • Racing Post adds: “French raider who won the Cleeve Hurdle over C&D on first British start; could be involved.”

     

    SUMMARY – Our choices and options for ‘doing a double’

    1.30pm – Selection: Appreciate It; Outsider: Stage Star.

     

    2.10pm –Selection: Thankyouforthehelp; Outside: Good Time Jonny; Wildcard: Captain Morgs.

     

    3.30pm – Selection: Blazing Khal; Outsider: Gold Tweet.

     

    DOING A DOUBLE

    Selection: Each way double on Appreciate It (1.30pm) and Thankyouforthehelp (2.10pm) at 19/1.

     

    Wildcard Selection: Each way double on Stage Star (1.30pm) and Gold Tweet (3.30pm) at 109/1.

     

    Happy racing and don’t forget to join in and ‘ROAR’ – even if watching at home on ITV Racing.

     

    Editor’s Note – Unlike as is the case in many publications, this article was NOT sponsored or supported by a third-party.

     

    To join our racing followers – who receive a FREE tipping service occasionally by email – please send your relevant details to [email protected].

     

    The Real Whacker
    The Real Whacker valiantly held off the hot favourite Gerri Colombe to score victory in the Brown Advisory. The ‘Racing Post’ now claim that “a Gold Cup campaign could await this Patrick Neville trained seven-year-old” whilst the ‘Daily Mail’s’ Robin Goodfellow observed that the result was a case of “Britain’ll take anything we can get with Ireland comfortably leading 10-4” currently at the Festival.
    Stephen Power
    Popular racing blogger Stephen Power’s tips for ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’ at the Cheltenham Festival 2023 include Mighty Potter (NAP) in the 1.30pm, Good Time Jonny in the 2.10pm and Shishkin in the 3.30pm.
  • Runners & Riders – The Cheltenham Festival 2023, Day 2, ‘Festival Wednesday’

    Runners & Riders – The Cheltenham Festival 2023, Day 2, ‘Festival Wednesday’

    ‘The Steeple Times’ examines the tipsters’ selections and offers options for ‘Festival Wednesday’ at the Cheltenham Festival 2023 including a 45/1 outsider

    The first day of the Cheltenham Festival 2023 saw success for not only Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson with a nine-length victory for Constitution Hill – who completed his sixth win on his sixth outing and was described by his trainer as “a freak” – but also a very fine career ending “fairytale” win for Honeysuckle also with a fourth success at the Festival.

     

    We did not get any first-place winners with our selections yesterday, but did secure money returning place positions for Jonbon, Facile Vega and Saint Roi; what saved us from ruination, though, was the perfectly respectable each way double we recommended on Monberg Genius and Constitution Hill.

     

    Today and again with soft ground for ‘Festival Wednesday,’ though everyone will be watching Edwardstone vs. Editeur Du Gite and Energumene in the big race that is the Champion Chase (3.30pm), we suggest EACH WAY BETS on:

     

    1.30pm Cheltenham – ‘The Baring Bingham’ Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 5f, 10 hurdles(10 runners, 3 places)

    Danny Mullins – W. P. Mullins combo Champ Kiely at 8/1 from 15/2 earlier (Daily Mail ‘Robin Goodfellow’, At The Races ‘Watch Out For’)

    Racing Post remarks: “Gamely won Naas Grade 1 from the front in January and has a significant role to play here.”

     

    At The Races adds: “Willie Mullins saddled the winner of this contest 12 months ago and appears to have a cracking chance this time around, firing four bullets at the race. The form of Champ Kiely’s Lawlor’s Of Naas success took a timely boost when the runner-up, Irish Point, struck at Naas on Sunday and he is in danger of going under the radar.”

     

    Also in the same race, Michael O’Sullivan – Barry Connell combo Good Land at 17/4 from 4/1 earlier (Radio 4, Daily Mail ‘Gimcrack’, The Sun ‘Fiver Flutter’, Sporting Life)

    Racing Post remarks: “Held on well to land Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month; well worth place in this line-up.”

     

    The Sun ‘Fiver Flutter’ says: “He won well at Leopardstown last time at Grade 1 level when jumping brilliantly. He’s right in the mix for trainer Barry Connell.”

     

    At The Races observes: “Good Land comfortably won a Grade 1 contest at Leopardstown last month and is by no means out of this either.”

     

    4.10pm Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase) – 2m 5f, 32 fences (16 runners, 4 places with Ladbrokes ‘The Grid’)

    Our ‘safe selection’ in this race would be the Davy Russell – Gordon Elliott combo Galvin (Daily Mail ‘Main Danger’, ‘Gimcrack’ and ‘Peter Scudamore’, GG.co.uk, Sporting Life, Racing Post ‘The Punt NAP’, At The Races ‘Watch Out For’, RP Ratings, Mirror) at 21/10 over his widely favoured stablemate Delta Work at 11/8.

    Racing Post muses: “The Gordon Elliott-trained DELTA WORK is taken to win for the second year running. Stablemate Galvin could be a big danger… Festival and Grade 1 winner who is entitled to considerable respect on cross-country debut.”

     

    Stuart Langley (‘The Punt NAP’) for Racing Post adds: “National Hunt Chase winner in 2021, fourth in last season’s Gold Cup. He returned this season with a cosy win in Grade 3 company. First go around this unique track but, he has apparently schooled well, and on ratings, he is the class horse in the race.”

     

    Robin Goodfellow for Daily Mail observes: “GALVIN acquitted himself with credit in the Gold Cup 12 months ago and ought to find this test and change of discipline to his liking. He disappointed in the Savills Chase but the prospect of better ground on the X-Country course should suit.”

     

    At The Races comments: “Delta Work’s main danger may come in the shape of stable companion Galvin, who proved his stamina for this trip when winning the Challenge Cup here in 2021, but he is tackling these Cross Country fences for the first time today.”

     

    Our ‘favoured option’ is Sean Bowen – Martin Keighley combo Back On The Lash at 20/1 from 18/1 earlier (Radio 4, The Sun ‘Fiver Flutter’, WEST COUNTRY)

    Racing Post offers: “Two-time C&D handicap winner; each-way contender if handling the forecast soft ground.”

     

    The Sun ‘Fiver Flutter’ suggests: “Has a good record at this track and beat Delta Work in a handicap here last time. Even at level weights he should be thereabouts.”

     

    Robin Goodfellow for Daily Mail adds: “BACK ON THE LASH would have preferred the rain to have missed Cheltenham, but he loves this track.”

     

    Also in the same race, Rachael Blackmore – Henry De Bromhead combo Gin On Lime at 13/1 from 12/1 earlier

    Racing Post concludes: “4th in Kerry National when last seen; worth each-way respect with 7lb mares’ allowance.”

     

    Also in the same race, our ‘wildcard’ is the Harry Bannister – Richard J. Bandey combo Diesel D’Allier at 45/1 from 40/1 earlier

    Racing Post finishes: “Has won two C&D handicaps and may have needed his last run; not ruled out for a place.”

     

    SUMMARY – Our choices and options for ‘doing a double’

    1.30pm – Selection: Good Land; Outsider: Champ Kiely.

     

    4.10pm – Safe Selection: Galvin; Selection: Back On The Lash; Wildcard: Gin On Lime; Even Wilder Wildcard: Diesel D’Allier.

     

    DOING A DOUBLE

    Selection: Each way double on Good Land (1.30pm) and Galvin (4.10pm) at 14/1.

     

    Happy racing and don’t forget to join in and ‘ROAR’ – even if watching at home on ITV Racing.

     

    Editor’s Note – Unlike as is the case in many publications, this article was NOT sponsored or supported by a third-party.

     

    To join our racing followers – who receive a FREE tipping service occasionally by email – please send your relevant details to [email protected].

     

    Pictured Top – Nico de Boinville on Constitution Hill after his victory in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday 14th March 2023.

     

    Johnny Beardsall dress code
    Of the newly relaxed dress code at this year’s Festival, Yorkshire Dales milliner Jonny Beardsall told ‘The Guardian’ that he thought the easing of restrictions to be “a dreadful idea.” He added: “It encourages mediocrity. You shouldn’t have your shirt hanging out if you’re over 35. It just looks as if you’ve forgotten to tuck yourself in. And old men in skinny jeans with their arse hanging out the back is a very bad look.”
    Nico de Boinville Constitution Hill 2023 win
    Tweeting after his epic victory on Constitution Hill yesterday, jockey Nico de Boinville enthusiastically mused: “Constitution Hill proved today what a very special horse he is! I’m so pleased for his owner Michael Buckley, the guvnor and all the team at home at Seven Barrows.”
    Zwings
    This morning, ‘The Telegraph’ reported that an e-scooter trial in the Cheltenham area has had to be banned during the Festival and until 17th March after drunken festival goers were caught causing “all sorts of accidents” on them last year. Recalling the antics of last year’s festival-goers, Chris Nelson, Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, told the BBC: ‘I saw people, and they were clearly intoxicated, getting on these things, more than one person, and then scooting down Evesham Road weaving in and out of the public.’”
  • Capreolus Club Canned – A Salute To Jason Atherton For Banning Sick Goat Slayers

    Capreolus Club Canned – A Salute To Jason Atherton For Banning Sick Goat Slayers

    After a successful and swift campaign by ‘The Steeple Times,’ chef Jason Atherton is to be saluted for doing the right thing and banning the sickening goat slaying Capreolus Club from his premises; it is time these barbarians were banned full-stop

    Now, after first being forced to take down their advert for a “club social” at Richard Caring’s swanky Mark’s Club in Mayfair on 8th September, the relocated event of the goat slaying Capreolus Club on that date at Jason Atherton’s Berners Tavern at the Edition Hotel in Fitzrovia has also been quite rightly canned.

     

    As described in The Steeple Times on Sunday after Mr Atherton, the Berners Tavern, Edition Hotels and the public relations representatives for them after all failed to respond to request for comment on Friday and Saturday, we again shared that members of the Capreolus Club pay around £1,000 a pop to stalk goats in “the north of England and Scotland.” Of this, the twisted club enthuses: “If you want to hunt in the UK and fancy taking a break from deer, then feral goat stalking is a must.”

     

    In the missive sent on Friday at 3:59pm, Matthew Steeples most fairly offered a 24-hour window for response from the 10 contacts emailed and asked:

     

    1. Have you accepted a booking from the Capreolus Club for the 8th September 2022 at 6.30pm at the Berners Tavern at the Edition Hotel?
    2. If so, did you know that the Capreolus Club is an ‘organisation’ that tells it members that “goat shooting is a must” in the UK?
    3. If so, do you also endorse the slaying of goats in the British Isles in this truly barbaric manner as a bit of fun?
    4. Do you feel that killing goats by chasing them across the hills to slay them as “a break from deer” is something that should be celebrated with a ritzy dinner at the Berners Tavern at the Edition Hotel?

     

    Subsequently highlighted after a lack of reply by Sunday in the form of an article and a Change.org petition that was signed by 123 goat loving people prior to being declared victorious on Tuesday 9th August, a PR representative named Kate Bell eventually replied on Monday 8th August at 10.57am.

     

    As we then added in an update to our article at 2pm on Monday 8th August for the sake of clarity, Kate Bell of Purple PR – without answering our four questions – told us:

     

    “Many thanks for your email and for bringing this matter to our attention. Berners Tavern is not aware of this event and is not hosting it. We have asked the club to remove the event from their website as a matter of urgency.”

     

    Later on, responding at 5.05pm, another Ms Bell, this time one named Gemma Bell of Gemma Bell and Company, further remarked:

     

    “I have been looped into this email thread by Purple PR because I am Jason’s publicist. I would like to reiterate that Jason Atherton and Berners Tavern were not in any way aware of the nature of the booking. Now this has been brought to light the booking has been cancelled and the Club informed.”

     

    “As Kate said, this should be taken down from their website immediately so we are also hoping that you will take down the article from yours. I also noticed a recipe of Jason’s on the website, this will also need to be removed, not quite sure why it’s included [editor’s note: The recipe is for a dish made with GOAT cheese].”

     

    “Jason Atherton was not aware that this booking had been made at Berners Tavern, and it has now been cancelled. Jason and The Social Company do not condone any barbaric treatment of animals. The Capreolus Club is banned from all of The Social Company’s sites.”

     

    Going further at 8.22am this morning in another email, Gemma Bell added:

     

    “I am surprised to see the article is still up on your website with the addition of emails from Purple PR. However, your headline is very misleading and incorrect since the booking is no longer at Berners Tavern and the group have been banned from all restaurants part of The Social Company.”

     

    Responding this morning, Matthew Steeples observed:

     

    “Our article was anything but ‘misleading’ as clearly a booking had been taken by the Berners Tavern for an event for the goat slaying Capreolus Club. We received no response Friday and we rightly chose to highlight publicly available information on that club’s website.”

     

    “Though I am pleased that this wicked celebration of massacre has now been cancelled and salute Jason Atherton for banning the Capreolus Club from his venues, it is not for PR people to tell journalists what they can and cannot publish. This article today clarifies the cancellation made, hails the decisive action of Jason Atherton and now our Change.org petition will now be marked as successful also.”

     

    “As with Mark’s Club – who did not demand the removal of our articles – we commend all who join with us in banishing goat slayers from their orbit. Chasing such beautiful creatures across the hills to slay them as ‘a break from deer’ is totally reprehensible and unacceptable and should be called out as such.”

     

    Equally, as one of our esteemed readers, a marketing expert from New York, commented in a private message yesterday: “I would have thought [these PR people] could get more PR mileage out of being horrified at the Capreolus Club and how Jason is thrilled to say he’s banning them forever, rather than trying to get you to take down your posting.”

     

    “As you allude to in your email, easier to make goat cheese from live goats than slaughtered ones.”

     

    Pictured top – A happy goat jumping for joy at news of the Capreolus Club again getting banished.

     

    8th September
    The Capreolus Club has now removed the advertised 8th September event at the Berners Tavern at the Edition Hotel in London, but they have replaced it with and an advertisement for an event at another venue in Mayfair that remains “to be announced.” Clearly, another restaurant, members’ club or hotel must now be willing to face the negative publicity of being involved with such.
    Why on earth would anyone want to shoot a hardy domesticated ruminant mammal with backward-curving horns? You’d have to be decidedly deranged to wish to view participating in such as pleasurable. Whilst most people enjoy walking, reading, watching films and fine dining, members of the club run by Peter Jones prefer to go around massacring such beautiful creatures for utterly no good reason. Though they pay around £1,000 for the ‘privilege,’ they would be better confined to where they really belong – mental institutions.
    Why would anyone in their right-mind want to participate in such barbaric behaviour? If one wants entertainment, why not read a book? Why not watch a film? Why not go instead to the cinema or a walk even? For anyone to consider this acceptable simply illustrates that they must be beyond mentally challenged and utterly reprehensible.
    Merelize van der Merwe giraffe killer
    Now, again today, we urge readers of ‘The Steeple Times’ to join the 46,699 people who have signed our Change.org petition seeking a ban on the evil barbarian giraffe slayer Merelize van der Merwe from Facebook.
    Larysa Switlyk sheep and bear killer
    Now, again today, we also urge readers of ‘The Steeple Times’ to join the 21,127 people who have signed our Change.org petition seeking a ban on the blue ticked barbarian abuser of endangered animals Larysa Switlyk from Instagram.
  • A £3m Wagatha Win – Coleen Rooney Trounces Rebekah Vardy

    A £3m Wagatha Win – Coleen Rooney Trounces Rebekah Vardy

    Matthew Steeples suggests that cool-and-collected Coleen Rooney very much deserved her victory over the mendacious minx Rebekah Vardy; the lesson from the ‘Wagatha Christie’ case is not to take legal action when you know you’ve told porky pies

    After judgment was issued in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ case, Rebekah Vardy yesterday was shown to be nothing but a liar. She brought a case that was neither necessary or rationally thought out and in doing so has simply elevated the defendant Coleen Rooney from someone the public laughed at to someone they now respect.

     

    Like Amber Heard in both her British and American cases, Carrie Johnson fan Mrs Vardy has thrown her very own reputation under the bus and will now go down in history as nothing but a stupid, mendacious woman. Her opponent, Mrs Rooney, will now rise and rise and in showing dignity in her response to the verdict proves herself to be the far bigger person.

     

    Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, Coleen Rooney’s Liverpool based lawyer Paul Lunt, a partner and head of litigation at a firm named Brabners, analysed the success he achieved for his client and began:

     

    “Coleen had been given my name by somebody and I received an approach. I was given some background details. I was asked for an opinion. I gave my view. I obviously won’t go into what that was. It went from there and she was happy to instruct me and we got on with it.”

     

    Asked why Rooney couldn’t settle at the beginning, Lunt continued:

     

    “That’s a really good question. This is something that has really irked Coleen and me to an extent throughout. As she has said very publicly, this is a case that she never wanted to have. She never wanted this to go to a trial and we did try hard to settle it.”

     

    “The public commentary, the newspaper coverage, the media commentary and a lot of the comments that you’ll see from the general public have often said: ‘Why don’t these two just sort it out?’ and that can be very frustrating because it takes two people to sort things out.”

     

    “And Coleen, and what people often miss in this case and in the commentary is that she is the defendant. She didn’t start the case, she didn’t choose to have it and it was commenced by Becky Vardy.”

     

    “And when you are a defendant in a case, you have really only got very limited choices. You can either defend or you can capitulate and Coleen was not for capitulating, but we did make every effort to see if there was some middle ground that could be found and sadly we didn’t manage to succeed on that front.”

     

    Asked if Rooney considered a financial settlement with Vardy prior to trial, the lawyer responded:

     

    “Well, look I’m not going to go into discussions we had. They were all confidential. Many of them are subject to strict confidentiality arrangements so I can’t discuss them and it would be quite wrong when there are still certain live issues in relation to the case to be getting into that, but, you know, for our part, from our perspective, we had a very open mind in relation to the discussions that we had and we were just trying to find a sensible alternative to going all the way to a trial.”

     

    Questioned as to “what is still to be determined,” Lunt observed:

     

    “Well what’s come out is the judgment on the facts and the rulings on the law as it were. There are what are called consequentials to be dealt with and that will be a separate hearing some time later on in the summer or autumn. But, the issues such as the payment of legal fees, costs and one or two other consequential matters to do with the involvement of journalists and The Sun and other people who were caught up in the wash along the way.”

     

    After the supposed £3 million costs were mentioned by the presenter, Lunt suggested this to be off-the-scale exaggeration and shared:

     

    “Well, I mean the costs budget and these days in High Court litigation, I mean everyone has to produce cost budgets which are public record and so the court had to look at the budgeting, as it does with most High Court litigation these days very early on.”

     

    “The figures there are a matter of record. £3 million is a gross overestimate and doesn’t represent those figures.”

     

    “I can’t speak for what Mrs Rooney has spent on the case and I can only know what I know from my side of things, but I do think that there has been an awful lot of over exaggeration in the media commentary about what those costs are.”

     

    Turning to whether Rooney might next pursue The Sun and other players, the lawyer offered:

     

    “Well, it’s not so much for Mrs Rooney to pursue anything, but The Sun were, or a number of Sun journalists were thought to be brought into the claim by Mrs Vardy in relation to witness evidence and there are certain consequential issues in relation to how that played out that will be between The Sun and Mrs Vardy to resolve.”

     

    “It’s only in relation to the fact that there was an attempt to call various The Sun journalists. It is referred to in the judgment – the witness summons that were issued.”

     

    “The judge, in fact, found that the witness summons were issued essentially improperly in relation to the content of the witness summonses and there may be consequences that flow from that, but, as I say, that’s a matter for The Sun to take up with Mrs Vardy and for the judge to make a determination on.”

     

    “Coleen hasn’t wanted this. She didn’t want any of this to happen. She doesn’t want any compensation, retribution. She’s never wanted any of that. She just wanted the intrusion that she was seeing into her private life to stop and that was her sole aim and her sole focus.”

     

    “She has no remaining objectives. Certainly, she doesn’t have any need for compensation or demands or anything of that nature. She’s just glad that it’s over and that she can get on with her life.”

     

    “We’ve certainly had lots of cameras and paparazzis following us around and I’ve had loads of approaches from all sorts of areas of the media and, you know, if they’re all telling me the truth then there are a lot of documentaries being made. I’ve certainly not engaged with any of them and it would be news to me if Coleen has engaged with any of them.

     

    Following up and contacting The Steeple Times by email, football historian and author of WAG WARS: The Glamour History of Footballers’ Wives Sam Kimberley concluded that “Wags won’t have the same media weight from now on” after this “last hurrah of Waggery.” He told us:

     

    “The eye-watering cost of suing over Rooney’s tweet has set Vardy back £3 million. It shows a high tide in Waggery. Before they waged a war of fashion brands and midriffs, but it is a sign of football coming of age that Wags now wage a war of words and daggers are drawn in court.”

     

    “We will unlikely ever go back to how it was. It is hard to see how any wag can top this, if they ever wanted to. The new Wags seem a lot more serious than their predecessors. It is a worthy end of an era.”

     

    The Victors – The Rooneys have come out of this case on top. They didn’t choose to bring it and they showed that the claimant was nothing but a troublemaking liar.
    The Losers – It is likely now that the vexatious Vardy family will now have to sell their Portuguese holiday home to cover the costs of their utterly pointless legal action.
    Paul Lunt Brabners
    The Lawyer – Paul Lunt of Brabners will now be noted in history for his win for ‘Wagatha Christie’ Coleen Rooney.
    Sam Kimberley’s 288-page history of Wags in Britain from 1964 onwards was published by Gibson Square Books earlier this month. The book features the stories of amongst others Victoria Beckham, Angie Best, Cheryl Cole, Nancy Dell’Olio, Ulrika Johnson and Tina Moore.
  • Tangerines Triumph – Blackpool Beats Off Owen Oyston Woes

    Tangerines Triumph – Blackpool Beats Off Owen Oyston Woes

    Just as Blackpool Football Club’s new 17-year-old star signing Jake Daniels is widely lauded after “coming out” as gay, controversial former owner Owen Oyston unsurprisingly fails in laughable £78 million claim against the receivers of the ‘Tangerine’ team

    They’re so used to bad news at Blackpool Football Club that the beyond positive reaction to their new ‘star’ coming out as gay must have come as a total shock to any ‘Sandgrown’un’ who considers themselves a ‘Tangerine’ or ‘Seasider.’

     

    Occuring just a couple of weeks after flamboyant fedora hat sporting “miner to millionaire” Owen Oyston failed in his “brazen” bid to claim £78 million ($97.3 million, €92.8 million or درهم357.2 million) from receivers of the club he formerly owned, Bispham, Lancashire born forward Jake Daniels’ decision to “come out” was praised by everyone from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to fellow footballer Harry Kane.

     

    Jake Daniels Blackpool Football Club gay
    Out and Proud – Jake Daniels – born 8th January 2005 – has now become the UK’s only male professional footballer to be “publicly out” at this time.

    Reporting on the “desperate attempt” – that saw the club valued at a ludicrous grand total of £86.2 million ($107.5 million, €102.6 million or درهم394.7 million) – by the 88-year-old, The Blackpool Gazette stated that Oyston “believed the assets [which included the club, the stadium and its training ground] ought to have been broken up and sold separately.”

     

    Going further, the former Crown Court actor – who was jailed for 6 years in 1996 and served a sentence 3 years and 6 months for the rape and indecent assault of a 16-year-old girl – “made a serious allegation of negligence, claiming the receivers had ‘breached their duty through the sale of assets of Denaxe, the company formerly known as Segesta that owned the majority of shares in the football club and its related assets.”

     

    This suggestion fell on death ears and of the attempt, judge Mr Justice Fancourt concluded that there was “no realistic prospect of the claim succeeding,” with The Blackpool Gazette adding: “It’s understood Oyston has already spent over £1 million ($1.2 million, €1.2 million or درهم4.6 million) in failed litigation since the sale of the club.”

     

    Meanwhile, whilst 17-year-old Jake Daniels was saluted by an eclectic array of names – including the Reverend Richard Coles, Ed Davey MP, Nadine Dorries MP, Rio Ferdinand, Eddie Izzard, Boris Johnson MP, Gary Lineker, Angela Rayner MP, Sir Keir Starmer MP and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar – Oyston has still not managed to offload his Georgian mansion near Lancaster.

     

    Grade II* listed Quernmore Park Hall – featured in The Steeple Times along with its especially gauche-gaudy, gold-clad fittings in March – remains on offer for rent for the completely bonkers pie-in-the-sky sum of £40,000 ($49,900, €47,600 or درهم183,200 per month).

     

    The Louche Life of Owen Oyston – Owner of Blackpool Football Club from 1988 until 2019

    Stuart-Hall-William-Roache-Owen-Oyston
    Convicted paedophile Stuart Hall with ‘Coronation Street’ actor William Roache (nicknamed ‘Cock Roache’ for boasting about having slept with over 1,000 women and being involved in bizarre Druid rituals), convicted rapist Owen Oyston and four women. The three men were all, for a time, directors of Oystons Estate Agency – a firm that ceased to exist circa August 2019.
    Quernmore Park Hall gaudy gauche gold tacky
    The County Durham born tycoon’s Quernmore Park Hall, Quernmore, Lancaster, LA2 9HN, United Kingdom remains on offer for rent for the staggering and frankly ridiculous sum of £40,000 per month in spite of it having décor that would only appeal to Hyacinth Bucket or the cast of ‘Dynasty.’
    Max-Clifford-Stuart-Hall-William-Roache-Owen-Oyston
    The thankfully since croaked paedophile Max Clifford was the PR for Owen Oyston for a time. In 1997, after being hired to represent him prior to the latter’s jailing, creepy Clifford remarked: “[Owen] Oyston is many things, including very arrogant, but he is not a rapist.”
    Valeri-Belokon-Owen-Oyston
    In May 2018, during a court case between Owen Oyston and Valeri Belokon, the former was branded “vindictive,” “nasty” and someone who was now “hell bent on making life as bloody as possible for his wife” according to ‘The Blackpool Gazette.’ The paper added: “Mr Oyston owes £24 million to Valeri Belokon to buy back his shares in the club after Justice Marcus Smith ruled last year that Mr Oyston had ‘illegitimately stripped’ Blackpool FC of assets after it was promoted to the Premier League in 2010. It was found that the Oystons had unfairly prejudiced the Latvian, who accused them of ‘improperly’ extracting tens of millions of pounds from the club.”
    Vicki-Oyston
    Whilst her husband was in jail between 1996 and 1999, Vicki Oyston (neé Burns) – who was married from 1964 to 1982 first and then again for a second time from 1988 (she again sought a divorce in 2018, it is unknown as to whether this has been granted) to now 88-year-old Owen John Oyston – ran Blackpool Football Club. In 2014, ‘The Sunday Times’ listed the family as being worth £100 million.
    Karl-Oyston-Owen-Oyston
    Subsequently, one of the couple’s children, Karl Oyston (pictured front left), became chairman of Blackpool Football Club in 1999. He served in that role until 2018, but was loathed and detested by fans. The family owned the club from May 1988 to until February 2019 when the High Court appointed receivers and removed Owen Oyston and his daughter, Natalie Christopher, from the board.
    Blackpool-Football-Club
    The hatred of Blackpool F.C. fans for the Oyston family became so intense that there were protests against them. The club was eventually acquired out of receivership in 2019 when locally born hedge fund owner Simon Sadler purchased a 96.2% share in the club. In 2021, the Segantii Capital founder commented: “Two years in, and I’m still full of awe and wonder at being the owner of my hometown football club. I know that it’s a great honour and privilege to be the custodian of Blackpool Football Club, and I will continue to do my bit to protect, cherish and nurture it for the future generations of fans to come.”

    Statement from Jake Daniels

    This season has been a fantastic one for me on the pitch. I’ve made my first-team debut, scored 30 goals for the youth team, signed my first professional contract and shared success with my team-mates, going on a great run in the FA Youth Cup and lifting the Lancashire FA Pro-Youth Cup.

     

    But off the pitch I’ve been hiding the real me and who I really am. I’ve known my whole life that I’m gay, and I now feel that I’m ready to come out and be myself.

     

    It’s a step into the unknown being one of the first footballers in this country to reveal my sexuality, but I’ve been inspired by Josh Cavallo, Matt Morton and athletes from other sports, like Tom Daley, to have the courage and determination to drive change.       

     

    In reaching this point, I’ve had some of the best support and advice from my family, my Club, my agent and Stonewall, who have all been incredibly pro-active in putting my interests and welfare first. I have also confided in my team-mates in the youth team here at Blackpool, and they too have embraced the news and supported my decision to open up and tell people.  

     

    I’ve hated lying my whole life and feeling the need to change to fit in. I want to be a role model myself by doing this.

     

    There are people out there in the same space as me that may not feel comfortable revealing their sexuality. I just want to tell them that you don’t have to change who you are, or how you should be, just to fit in.

     

    You being you, and being happy, is what matters most.

     

    Jake

     

    Praise for Jake Daniels

    https://twitter.com/RevRichardColes/status/1526322784053387264
  • Hero of the Hour 2021 – Gary Lineker OBE

    Hero of the Hour 2021 – Gary Lineker OBE

    In taking refugees into his own home, ex-footballer Gary Lineker not only puts his money where his mouth is, but also shows true compassion and decency

    Ex-footballer turned football pundit Gary Lineker is a man who puts his money where his mouth is and today with the revelation that he is taking a second refugee into his very own home, he has yet again shown his decency and humanity.

     

    Father of four and host of the BBC’s Match of the Day Lineker – in genuine contrast to the heartless harridan and immigrant hater who is now MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke – the MailOnline revelaed is “finalising paperwork with a refugee charity at the moment and will soon take in another person from Balochistan.”

     

    Speaking to Dylan Jones of British GQ in October 2020 of why he took in a refugee on a previous occasion, Lineker explained:

     

    “I’ve always been a supporter of the refugee crisis… It’s a humanitarian issue that the whole world has to deal with… We can’t have everybody here, we know that, I know that, but we need to have our fair share and the world needs to have their fair share.”

     

    “I first supported that a few years ago and I got criticised from the national newspapers. One of them even said I should lose my job at one point because of it and I didn’t quite understand that because I didn’t think it was a political issue. I thought it was a humanitarian issue.”

     

    “I just thought: ‘How can we not have a degree of empathy towards these poor souls?’ You know, they are fleeing, like, erm, war torn countries or oppression or whatever it is. Do you think that they want leave their homes? Of course they don’t. They’re forced out. They have to travel the world.”

     

    “Take for example the dinghies in the English Channel. Do you think that is what they want to do? They’re desperate and then when they arrive somewhere, they’re filled not with affection or love or anything or understanding or empathy or sympathy, but with a degree of hatred and not being wanted.”

     

    “Imagine if that was the other way around. Imagine if that was in London. Suddenly we were bombed everywhere and we all had to go and we fled. It is unimaginable, I know, but it does happen to real people, fellow human beings. Imagine if we suddenly had to flee and no one wants you. How awful would that be?”

     

    “That’s how it started. So, getting around to taking in a refugee myself… The strange argument I used to think was always: ‘Well, why don’t you have them in your house then?’ and I used to think: ‘Is that your problem: You think you are going to have them living in your house?’ which is clearly not the case, so in the end having had that constantly thrown at me for years, I actually started to think: ‘Well, why wouldn’t I?”

     

    “My kids have all grown up now, they’re all in their twenties and, erm, and I did a little thing, I can’t remember with who, getting a bit of stick on Twitter and it was the same thing and then underneath, I don’t actually look at the notifications, only of the people that I follow or blue ticked posters, but underneath the tweet sometimes you do see a couple of tweets below.”

     

    “I saw one that said: ‘Gary, you might be interested in this’ and so I clicked on it and it was a charity called Refugees at Home, so I thought: ‘What’s that?’ so I clicked on it and it offered you different things. You could have someone on a short-term basis, a permanent basis or almost like an emergency foster parent – which I thought sounds, erm, quite interesting so I clicked on that and then I went through the process.”

     

    “I had my first refugee in the last few weeks and he left at the weekend. A delightful chap [named Rasheed], brilliant for my children and even they were saying what a perception.”

     

    “He was from a place called Balochistan, which is actually part of Pakistan, but they don’t want you to be. He’s come here to study law, he wants to free his country, he wants to get them independent from both Pakistan and Iran. It’ll be difficult because they’ve got minerals, gold and natural gas, but it’s fascinating, a real education for my boys as well because obviously they’re privileged. They know they’re privileged, but they’re keen to hear this guy’s story. He was brilliant with them. It was a really, really positive experience and I’ll definitely do it again.”

     

    Praised previously as “the sensible face of our country” by ex-MP Anna Soubry, Gary Lineker is someone who also uses his powerful voice for the good on social media and someone who refuses to work in Qatar because of their appalling human rights abuses record. Here is someone who most definitely deserves to be lauded as The Steeple Times ‘Hero of the Hour’ and today and we urge our readers to join the 8.2 million individuals already following him on Twitter.

     

    The letter sent to Lineker by law student Rasheed:

    Dear Garry Lineker,

     

    When I was moving to your home, I was worried that you might be unfriendly and conservative but it was all reverse what I thought.

     

    During my stay in your beautiful home, I never felt that I am a stranger or guest but it seemed to me as if I am a member of your family.

     

    I can never forget your hospitality, love and company that you and your lovely respectful children gave to me.

     

    There is a saying in Balochi language, that if you give me a glass of water, I owe you my entire life. In fact you did more.

     

    Best wishes,

     

    Rasheed

    Refugee article and letter
    A headline from ‘The Mirror’ about Lineker taking in a refugee in 2020 and the letter the ex-footballer received from that person thanking him.
    Refugee tweet
    The sports broadcaster responded to the letter with a typically decent tweet.