Touchdown! NFL fans enjoy first syndicate success with Showtime Mahomes

The Muffed Punt Partnership enjoyed its first winner when Showtime Mahomes struck in the 5f maiden as trainer Grant Tuer continued his best season with a 27th winner.

The unusually named syndicate, which consists of nine NFL fans from Darlington, has had to be patient with its first horse, who is named after Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick ‘Showtime’ Mahomes.

The two-year-old finished second at Ripon and Ayr and it was a case of third time lucky as the well-backed 5-4 favourite duly obliged under Sam James.

Anthony Freeman, a member of the syndicate who was at the course, said: "We’re all NFL fans and we have a fantasy football NFL draft together. A muffed punt is an NFL term for a dropped ball so that is where the Muffed Punt Partnership comes from.

"It’s unfortunate about the colours. One of the members of the partnership is a Norwich City fan which is why we're stuck with green and yellow. If people are thinking about getting into a syndicate, just do it."

The Super Sprint at Newbury is an exciting potential day out for the syndicate.

"Showtime only cost eight grand and that has made it all worthwhile," said Freeman. "We’ve now got a chance of a hundred grand at the Super Sprint which is what we're targeting."

Tuer, who owns half of the winner, was delighted about rewarding the new syndicate.

"They're a great bunch of lads. They came to me last October for a yard visit. We got on great and they bought two yearlings," he said.

"It’s their first time in ownership and they’ve been lucky enough to have found one straight away. We deserve to go to Newbury and take our chance."

Currie gets seven-day whip ban

Nicola Currie received a seven-day suspension for using her whip above the permitted level in the mile fillies' maiden.

Nicola Currie: seven-day suspension for excessive use of the whipCredit: Mark Cranham

The 27-year-old partnered the odds-on Fire Eyes, who was beaten a neck by the David Barron-trained Lilikoi, the mount of Joe Fanning.

Results, replays and analysis

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