'He's the quickest, he's the best' - odds-on Danger Mouse lands gamble

Danger Mouse landing a touch, a married pair of sausages waddling down the track and a Conservative MP lying prone on the turf – it could only be the return of the Sue Ryder Mascot Gold Cup.

The thud and blunder of numerous fundraisers dressing up in garish costumes and hurtling – or shuffling, depending on the outfit – down the final furlong of the Flat course at Wetherby and clambering over six obstacles, was back for the first time since 2019.

The 15th running of the race, which once set a world record with no fewer than 129 mascots taking part, attracted 70 competitors, which was more than enough to cause chaos aplenty – and give commentator Darren Owen nightmares.

The Gold Cup field pose for a photo before the raceCredit: David Carr

Robbie Moore, the Conservative MP for Keighley who was running as Cliffe The Castle, came down at the second but – good grief – nothing saved the on-course layers from Danger Mouse, who was chalked up at just 5-6 despite the 70-runner field.

As the theme tune to the 1980s cartoon series had it, "He's the strongest, he's the quickest, he's the best" – and that's what he proved thanks to Kieron Harness, a 22-year-old mechanic from Keighley who had been itching to take part for years.

After accepting the trophy and removing the head of his costume, he said: "I've been coming here since I was a kid. I used to watch this all the time and I wanted to enter in 2019 but it was full up.

Dangermouse/Kieron Harness: 'It went all right but I was knackered towards the end'Credit: David Carr

"I entered in 2021 and it was cancelled but I got my chance this year. It went all right but I was knackered towards the end. I do short sprints!"

He was one of many who was running to raise money for Sue Ryder, a charity which supports people who are living with a terminal illness, a neurological condition or who have lost someone.

So was MP Moore, who said of the race: "It's for an awesome cause. Sue Ryder give a lot of great support for everyone and it's great to see so many people get involved today.

"I fell at the second and I couldn't get back up, someone had to help me, but it was good fun."

Cliffe the Castle/Robbie Moore MP: 'It's for an awesome cause'Credit: David Carr

The less-than-entirely serious nature of the contest was summed up by the award of a trophy to "Lego Man" Rachel Amner as the last finisher who never actually stopped, while early calculations suggested more than £13,000 had already been raised for Sue Ryder alone, which has to be a happy return.

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