Hammer hoping for double win at Cheltenham
Gemmell started supporting West Ham when he went along with workmates after moving to London from Shropshire.
Gemmell – who cites defender Billy Bonds as his favourite player – shares his racing passion with Tom Friel, Irish landlord of Plaistow pub, the Black Lion, which is about a 20-minute walk from West Ham’s former Boleyn Ground home.
The pair own a horse called Discorama, a runner-up at last year’s Festival and a leading contender for the 5.30 pm National Hunt Chase on Tuesday currently priced at 6/1 for a win.
Gemmell also owns a horse called Paisley Park. A leading British bookmaker has revealed that Paisley Park winning the Stayers’ Hurdle would be the worst result for bookies at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Should he justify favouritism in the market, bookies are set to lose out on a colossal sum.
That result would see UK bookmakers hammered for an eye-watering estimated £10 million
Now the 5/4 favourite to win the Stayers’ Hurdle starting as a 33/1 outsider when markets first opened on Thursday’s race.