Exciting prospect Doddiethegreat does MND charity proud at Huntingdon

Doddiethegreat took his record to two from two by running out a popular winner of the bumper at Huntingdon on Tuesday.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, the five-year-old runs in the Honeysuckle colours of owner Kenny Alexander.

He is named after Scottish rugby union great Doddie Weir, who is suffering from motor neurone disease and has set up his own charity to help others affected by the condition.

The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation aims to raise funds to aid research into MND, and Alexander has donated everything Doddiethegreat earns to the charity – and on this showing, there will be plenty more.

Already a winner at Ludlow, the 5-6 favourite conceded lumps of weight to second-placed Kalmoor but ran out a four-and-a-half-length winner.

Both Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville also donated their share of the winnings from the Racing TV-sponsored contest.

Peter Molony, Alexander’s racing manager, said: “Kenny met Doddie a few years ago at a rugby international.

“Scotland were playing Fiji, and Kenny has a Fijian sister-in-law. Her son was with them. They met Doddie, and he made their day – Kenny thought he was an absolute superstar.

“Kenny loves his rugby and was really keen to do something to help Doddie. It’s nice of Nico and Nicky as well.”

Molony is looking to an exciting future with the unbeaten gelding.

“I loved the way he won the last day, and the second came out and won well, which is always a good sign,” he said.

“It’s never easy to give away a penalty in a bumper, but he was giving a stone to a fancied horse today and won well.

“He won’t run again this season, that will be it, and we can look forward to going hurdling next season with him.”

De Boinville added: "“All prize money won today between myself, and the governor and my riding fee as well will go to Doddie Weir’s foundation in support of Motor Neurone Disease. It’s a great cause and Kenny Alexander the owner has named him after a great man. I think he is a fantastic advert for it.”

On Doddiethegreat he added: “He is a fantastic horse as it is not easy for horses to win bumpers under penalties. The boss gave me free rein and he said if there was no pace to let him stride on as he has got a massive stride so you might as well use it. The main thing was to get him through his bumpers and educate him.”