Let's go Bunting mental: darts star hoping his namesake can hit the bullseye in Wednesday's Coral Cup

Cult darts hero and world number six Stephen Bunting is hoping to see Bunting hit the bullseye at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday as he prepares to watch his favourite horse in training.

The World Darts Championship semi-finalist, who was knocked out by eventual winner Luke Littler at the Ally Pally in January, has no association with the well-gambled Coral Cup (2.40) hopeful other than a shared name, but he plans on getting to a racecourse to watch the dual winner at some point in the future.

The five-year-old is trained by the Bullet's favourite trainer Willie Mullins and will look to give him a boost ahead of his appearance in front of thousands in the latest round of the Premier League Darts at Nottingham on Thursday. 

He has become one of the most popular darts players due to his iconic walk-on to Titanium by David Guetta and social media prominence due to his hashtag 'Let's go Bunting mental'.

Stephen Bunting: world number six will be following the Cheltenham Festival action on WednesdayCredit: Getty Images

Bunting, speaking to the Racing Post, said: "I'm a keen racing fan. I've been to the St Leger a few times and I catch the Cheltenham Festival when I can. One day I would love to go and be there with all the action.

"I do plan on watching Bunting this afternoon. I always follow named horses,  especially when it’s my surname, or horses with bullet in as it's my nickname."

Bunting also recalls supporting Godolphin's Blue Bunting, who won the 1,000 Guineas at 2011 at odds of 16-1. Just three years later, the St Helens-based darts player won the WDF World Darts Championship.

"I've followed racing for a while and remember a horse quite a few years ago called Blue Bunting. She won a big race and Frankie Dettori was on her," Bunting added.

"I'm keen on the jumps and my favourite horse was Kauto Star. I live close to Aintree and that's my favourite racecourse."

Bunting, owned by Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom, was gambled into 5-1 (from 16-1) for the Coral Cup last week but has drifted to 8-1 this morning.

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