Northamptonshire horse could hold key to £5m jackpot
A seven-year-old gelding from Northamptonshire could hold the key to a bumper £5m jackpot when he lines up in the penultimate race of horse racing's biggest ever gamble.
Pearly Star, a little known bay from trainer Anna Brooks' tiny stable in Alderton, will today take his place in Huntingdon's 3.30pm handicap hurdle.
Normally, the race would warrant little or no interest beyond the most ardent of horse racing devotees but it has been thrust into the national spotlight, and on to primetime terrestrial television screens, due to the enormous amount of cash up for grabs.
The race forms the fifth leg of the Scoop6, a weekly bet on Saturday's six televised races which is currently on its 11th successive rollover. One lucky punter could walk away with an anticipated jackpot of 5million, but only if they pick the winner of all six races.
Mrs Brooks said: "They have changed the race from 12.40pm to 3.30pm for live television coverage. It's a bit daunting to be honest, I had no idea it was going to be this big. It's suddenly become the biggest race I have ever been involved with.
"There is obviously a lot of pressure on the race now. It would be amazing to help somebody win 5m, I wouldn't mind a bit of that myself."
Pearly Star is likely to start a 25/1 outsider for the race. He will be running three miles and two furlongs for the first time but is wearing his preferred blinkers and confidence is high, with a large following expected to head to Huntingdon from the owners' home town of Brackley to cheer on the stable star.
Mrs Brooks added: "We are hopeful he will run a big race. He is fit and should go well."
The Scoop6 bet has come to national prominence due to the huge cash pot on offer, dwarfing even the Lotto jackpot.
The pool swelled to record levels last week, when more than 2m was invested and has helped attract a raft of new customers to the sport.
Damian Walker, totesport's PR director, said: "Our betting shop managers tell us that new faces have been coming in all week asking how to do the bet."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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