A chance to own a runner on Grand National day and meet the legendary Bob Champion is being offered up by the Posh Pundit Racing Club through their horse Thank You Ma’am.
By purchasing a share for just £80, half of which will go to the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, members will have the chance of being an owner for the day when the consistent six-year-old, trained by Georgie Nicholls, runs in the opening William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle.
Champion – who won one of the most famous Nationals of them all in 1981 on Aldaniti after fighting back from cancer – is an ambassador for the syndicate, which was sent a good luck letter by Queen Camilla before Thank You Ma’am won at Ascot in December.
Nine-year-old Harry Adams, son of syndicate founder Rupert Adams, had written to the Queen before Christmas wishing her well after a bout of pneumonia.
Star Horse
“The horse has been a star, he hasn’t been out of the first three this season, has won two of his last three and the opportunity to run at Liverpool is brilliant,” said Champion.
“What you want with these horses when you are in a syndicate with not much outlay is a horse who runs a fair bit and preferably a consistent one.
“Thank You Ma’am (named as a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II) is all of that and more, and Olive (Nicholls) rides him really well, she gets a great tune out of him. Aintree should suit him, that big, long straight.
“Whoever is lucky enough to be there on National day will get a lot of fun out of it, I promise you. How many people get the chance to be an owner on Grand National day?
“Half of each share goes to the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, which is fantastic, so it’s great on two fronts, enjoyment from the racing side and helping a charity.”
Champion’s Story
Champion’s story is well trodden, especially at this time of year. The driving force in his battle with cancer was the chance to ride Aldaniti at Aintree. Little did he know that during his own recovery the horse was almost put down.
After his famous victory, the tale was turned into a Hollywood movie, with Champion setting up his own charity for those less fortunate than himself.
“I suppose we’ll be around the £16 million mark now – I haven’t counted it!” said Champion, who was awarded a CBE for his charity work.
“The National was a race I always wanted to win from about the age of nine. I was fortunate, I rode in it about 10 times and got round in most of them – and I won it once.
“Everything went so smoothly on Aldaniti that day. Our plan was to take it up going to the last – I took it up about three and a half miles too soon! I always felt I was in control of the race, though.
“I think Stumptown must take a good bit of beating this year for Gavin Cromwell. It’s a very open race, last year’s winner (I Am Maximus) can’t be ruled out, but I think it will be won by the Irish.”
Shares in Thank You Ma’am can be purchased by logging on at https://www.theposhpundit.co.uk/product/tym-bob-champion-cancer-trust-2025
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