Post man Mottershead makes brave call to step behind microphone at Newmarket

The Racing Post's very own Lee Mottershead is to don the headphones to call one of seven races at the fourth annual Newmarket Open Weekend Commentary Competition on the Rowley Mile on Saturday week.

He will be joined behind the mic by broadcaster Hayley Moore, as well as trainers Richard Spencer, winner a year ago, George Scott, Charlie Fellowes, Ed Vaughan and one other to call them home.

One race that Mottershead will not want to call will be the featured 2m2f Cesarewitch Trial, which takes nearly five minutes to run, but the real race will be who can raise the most money for this year's five very worthy causes.

This year's beneficiaries are Racing Welfare’s Newmarket Housing Project, the National Heritage Centre at Palace House, the Newmarket Day Centre, the Newmarket mayor’s charity and the 32Red Newmarket Open Weekend grant.

Richard Spencer : won the Newmarket commentating competition in 2017 Pic Megan Ridgewell

The top fundraiser will not only be awarded the Julian Wilson Memorial Trophy, they will also win lunch for six people at the Rowley Mile’s Champions Gallery at the 2019 Craven meeting.

Mottershead said: "The prospect of commentating on a race at Newmarket fills me full of excitement, combined with a fair degree of fear. That said, aside from calling the wrong horses and thereby making a total fool of myself, what could possibly go wrong?

"We'll be raising money for some excellent charities and I'll be gaining easy material for my Monday column. It's a win-win scenario!

"In a nutshell, I'll attempt to channel my inner John Hanmer and hope for the best."

Charlie Fellowes, newly appointed chairman of the 32Red Newmarket Open Weekend, said: “The commentary competition is a fantastic annual occasion and we're very pleased to welcome another round of eager participants for 2018.

"We're particularly excited to welcome Lee Mottershead and Hayley Moore, who excel in their day-to-day roles but who are both keen to experiment with commentating on a race.

"Once again our commentary competition is raising money for a range of worthy causes in Newmarket and I'm calling on the support of the racing community to help us raise as much money as possible. May the best man or woman win!”

The races that the competitors will commentate on will be decided nearer the time.

You can donate to the competitors via their individual Just Giving pages...

32red Newmarket Open Weekend Commentary Competition homepage

Charlie Fellowes

Hayley Moore

Lee Mottershead

George Scott

Richard Spencer

Ed Vaughan

As well as racing on the Saturday, visitors to the two-day open weekend will get the chance to see some of the world’s best racehorses at Warren Hill Gallops, tour a number of Newmarket’s finest equine sites, and visit the yards’ of leading Newmarket trainers.

This year’s event takes place on September 22-23, to which under-18s are admitted for free. Tickets and information at www.newmarketopenweekend.co.uk

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