Tobefair team set to travel in numbers to cheer on their hero

Cresswell Quay in the south west corner of Wales might not be the bustling river port it once was but tourists visiting the quaint retreat on Thursday will find it even quieter than usual.

The talk of the town this year has been Pertemps Final hope Tobefair, trained some 40 miles inland among a team of eight at Debra Hamer’s yard close to Carmarthen Castle and owned by a group of 17 friends from Cresswell who have enjoyed the ride of their lives thanks to Tobefair’s seven-race winning run.

That journey takes them across the Severn Bridge to jump racing's Mecca on Thursday and they are bringing strength in numbers as they rub shoulders with some of the biggest owners and trainers in the business.

“There’ll be 57 on one bus,” said Andy Pannell, the owner of a one and one-third share in the winning-machine. “Then there’s a mini bus with 13 in it, seven of us are going up in cars and another eight in a limousine. I bet there’s in the region of 100 going up from this area.”

Pannell says the local area is “buzzing” in anticipation and anyone not making the journey will be found in the Cresswell Arms, the pub frequented by Tobefair's owners and supporters.

“I went into the local Tesco yesterday where my daughter works,” said Pannell. "Her two mates shouted ‘what time’s he racing?’. Then everyone wanted to talk about Tobefair. It’s just buzzing round here.”

Despite soaring more than four stone in the handicap since his winning run began, expectations are still high among his owners.

Pannell said: "It’s been an unbelievable ride. If this time last year you’d said we’d be going to Cheltenham, we’d have laughed at you but I think it will be a good horse who beats us.”