Just Like That: Tommy Cooper takes to the stage at Windsor on Monday

Michael Bell will be hoping the two-year-old newcomer he sends to Windsor on Monday night will win 'Just Like That' given he is named after legendary funny man Tommy Cooper.

Owners Middleham Park Racing have received special permission to name the son of Dandy Man after the late comedian following a consultation with his daughter Vicky Cooper.

Cooper was so thrilled by the approach she is hoping to be at Windsor to watch the namesake run and plans to follow his career closely.

Tommy Cooper after exercise on Wednesday

The colt is well named as he is out of Imelda Mayhem, mayhem being a trademark of Cooper when many of his magic tricks would go wrong.

Cooper, who died on stage in 1984, is regarded as a comic icon by many and in a 2005 poll was voted the sixth greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.

Tim Palin, director of Middleham Park, said: "We have a policy that anyone who has a 15 per cent share in a syndicate can pick the names and Russell Starke held that amount and wanted Tommy Cooper. He's from a Variety Club background in the south-west and knows all the acts so the name means a lot to him. "

Starke said: "I approached Vicky Cooper to get permission and she was very happy and thrilled that someone would name a horse after her father. She's so excited that she plans to come racing to see him run and may well come along on Monday.

"I've already bought 24 fez hats to take to Windsor to enter into the spirit of things and Michael Bell can have one if he comes along."

As for the horse himself, Tim Palin added: "He's no superstar but we've had positive reports about him and Michael Bell sent a video of him working this morning. I'm not saying he's going to win on Monday but hopefully he can put on a good show like Tommy himself did."

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