Rotherham syndicate celebrates Kilkenny All Star's debut win

FOUR members of a Rotherham racing syndicate are celebrating another big win after backing a second rising star of the track.

The star in question is Kilkenny All Star, which romped home for its first win last week in a two-mile chase at Wetherby—earning each of the group around £500 prize money.

Lucky punter Mick O’Connor bought a share in the horse after winning big on Mr McGoldrick, another Rotherham-based racehorse, and convincing fellow Kimberworth lads  Dave Ashmore, Russ Hayler and Paul Kettleborough to invest.

Now the quartet are hoping Kilkenny All Star, an eight-year-old gelding, will gallop to another triumph at Wetherby tomorrow.

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The group's racing success all started when Mick talked his three mates into buying a share in Kilkenny All Star, known as KAS, after he scooped £6,200 when Mr McGoldrick won at 100-1 at the Cheltenham Festival last year.

And they quickly got a return on their investment after they each put in £3,400 plus £2,100 towards training fees for a year.

Racing mad Mick (41), said: “After I won, I talked my mates into buying a share in Kilkenny All Star.

“Last week he won his first race at Wetherby at odds of 5-2. He’s running again on Saturday and we have high hopes for the future.”

Bookies were left smarting after Mr McGoldrick—named after the heart surgeon who operated on his owner and former landlord of Kimberworth’s Manor Barn pub, Richard Longley—stole the headlines.

The win saw fans of the horse jumping for joy as they cashed in on their loyalty to the 11-year-old rank outsider.

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Mick’s £50 each-way bet came in at odds of 100-1 and won him £6,200.

Mick, a tree surgeon, became friends with Mr McGoldrick’s owner, Richard, during his 15 years as landlord at the Manor Barn and has been following the horse ever since.

Richard is another who has a share and is the syndicate manager. He has four or five racehorses all together,” he added.

“After winning at Cheltenham, Richard just wanted to share his enjoyment and now we have experienced the same feeling. It was really exciting, there’s nothing like it.

“I just love racing. I go twice a week, up and down the country.

“I’ve been up to Perth in the north of Scotland, I’ve been to most of the new racecourses and was in Huntingdon last week. I bet £100 on KAS and won £300 plus we all got £500 each from the prize money.”

It’s a dead cert that there will be celebrations at a certain Kimberworth hostelry tomorrow if Kilkenny All Star romps home.