MICHAEL OWEN showed punters his funny side by saying his winning racehorse ‘has to have the best name’ after it bolted up at Ripon.
The former England, Liverpool and Real Madrid forward, 41, watched on as his 15-8 favourite hacked up on Sunday.
Daniel Tudhope steered the two-year-old perfectly through the driving rain, seeing it home by an easy three-and-a-quarter lengths in the end.
Bolton Abbey took second at 11-4 with Neat And Dandy further back in third at 7-2.
Owen – who recently had a runner with his former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson – must have known the horse would prove an immovable object in front and duly named it as such.
Tweeting after the horse scooped the £3,726 first-place prize, Owen said: “Regardless of whether he wins or not, my horse has to have the best name in the first race at Ripon.
“Ever Given – they’ll never get past him.”
Owen was of course referring to the tanker ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal in March.
The gigantic vessel almost brought world trade to a standstill after running aground on her journey from Malaysia to Holland.
It blocked the vital trade waterway for six days before being straightened with the help of diggers and a flotilla of tug boats.
Regardless of whether he wins or not, my horse has to have the best name in the first race at Ripon. Ever Given – they’ll never get past him
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) May 16, 2021
The canal is a vital through route for ships coming from Asia and heading to Europe and avoids the long trip around Africa.
Experts said the blockage cost world trade an eye watering £7billion a day as more than 400 ships were held up during the massive operation to free her.
The horse of the same proved equally effective when out in front in the six furlong race.
Though Owen’s joke dropped like an anchor with some punters.
One mused wryly: “There’s banter then there is this.”
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