Cornwall pub owner names horse race after England’s Euros win

A long-standing racecourse sponsor has stepped up to name a race at Monday’s Well Done England Euro Champions 2024 Handicap Chase meeting. The brave call came from Matt Bailey, owner of the Par Inn, near St Austell. who are also sponsoring a run at Newton Abbot on behalf of the pub on the card.

Bailey, a keen racing fan, wanted to stir up some “good vibes” for Gareth Southgate’s men ahead of their semi-final with Holland and potential final and is flying his colors early to predict Harry Kane will lift the trophy in Berlin on Sunday .

Bailey’s Nostradamus act has already sparked interest in the racing world and the owner hopes the Three Lions can use their confidence as inspiration to bring home the Euro 2024 trophy.

He said: “We also have the Par Inn race before this and then the England race. Normally all the races I sponsor will have Par Inn in them, but I thought we’d push the boat out and see how we go.

“We wanted people to really know after Wednesday but obviously we had to name the race before then and now it’s a case of fingers crossed.

“It will be great if Gareth Southgate speaks to his team on Wednesday or even Sunday and says that Matt from the Par Inn has sponsored a race on our behalf and we have to go and do him justice.

“I wouldn’t say it’s home and hosed, but I’m keen to get some good vibes – we haven’t played well so far and hopefully that’s something good to think about.”

He continued: “If it goes in then I’m a genius and if it doesn’t it’s something we can all laugh about. We just wanted to have a bit of fun and it’s a bit of publicity for the pub, it shows that we’re there and it’s just fun.”

Mad Bailey Racing is in its 15th year of sponsoring racing at Newton Abbot, building a good association with its local racecourse.

He added: “I have been in the pub for 15 years and have sponsored at least one race a year in that time. This is the fourth race I have sponsored at Newton Abbot this year and I have a great relationship with the racecourse.

“There aren’t many pubs these days that follow the races like we do and they support us and we support them and we basically have fun.

“I would argue, like in pubs Cornwall go, we are the most dedicated racing pub. We have races every day, we have people every day and Cheltenham week is my biggest week in the pub every year.

“Maybe if England win, Gareth and the boys can join me at Newton Abbot to present the trophy with their trophy!”