John Francome set to receive Sir Peter O'Sullevan Award for lifetime achievements in racing

Hospitality tickets to all five Betfred-sponsored Classics go under the hammer this week at the annual Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust auction. 

The lunch, held at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Thursday afternoon, serves as the principal fundraiser for the charity in which eight lots will go up for auction, including tickets for the five Classics and a VIP package for four at the Derby, donated by Betfred chairman Fred Done.

Also up for auction is lunch with Sir Mark Prescott and John Francome at the Michelin-star restaurant Murano in London, plus a visit to Closutton, the yard of Willie Mullins. 

"I was sitting next to Willie at Aintree this year and, since he always comes to the lunch, I asked him if he would consider doing an auction item and he was more than happy to do it," trustee Nigel Payne said. "Fortunately, I asked him before the Grand National [won by Mullins with I Am Maximus] because it would have been a bit cheeky of me to do it afterwards.

"We've got 480 guests on Thursday and remarkably most of them are the same people who have been coming for many years. It's just amazing how many like to attend. Some call it the beginning of Christmas. 

"It's a great event, which will be hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin. The comedian Rory Bremner is the guest speaker and Nick Nugent of Goffs will helm the auction, for which we have some wonderful items."

The Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust was set up in 1999 to distribute money to the Blue Cross, Compassion in World Farming, World Horse Welfare, Racing Welfare and The British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre.

The charities have received a combined £5 million from the trust, which has also pledged more than £10m to other charitable causes. 

Thursday's lunch will honour Francome, who will become the latest winner of the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Award to honour his lifetime achievements in racing. Previous winners include Aidan O'Brien, Martin Pipe and Queen Elizabeth II. 

"It's a fun day to celebrate an award which Peter started up after he retired," Payne said. "There have been some wonderful winners of the award, including Nicky Henderson last year, so it's lovely to add John Francome to the list." 

A portrait of Francome by Johnny Jonas, who has painted all 27 prior winners, is one of several pieces of art up for auction, alongside a collage of Desert Orchid by Georgea Blakey, a Christmas card designed by landscape artist Garry Pereira and an Arabian stallion sculpture by Tom Hiscocks. 

You can donate to the Peter O'Sullevan Charitable trust here.

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