Not a happy Monday for Bez as first runner refuses to enter stalls on debut

Happy Mondays star Bez did not, in fact, have a happy Monday at Redcar when Mystic Moonshadow, the first horse for his new venture in the sport, refused to race.

A winner of Celebrity Big Brother in 2005, Bez – full name Mark Berry – is best known for his role with the rock band Happy Mondays, but recently launched a racing club with the aim of raising money for Manchester-based homeless charity .

A self-confessed fan of the skulduggery of Dick Francis novels as a child, Bez had high hopes for the Jedd O'Keeffe-trained Mystic Moonshadow, a daughter of Showcasing who cost 27,000gns as a yearling last year.

Step on: Happy Mondays star Bez hoping to dance to success with new racing club

However, she did not read the script before her debut in Redcar's 5f novice, refusing to enter the stalls under Jack Garritty.

The race was won by the Bryan Smart-trained newcomer Instinction and O'Keeffe said: "I'm at Newmarket for the breeze-up sales and she just didn't want to go in. She took exception to the blindfold as well, so they couldn't use that and I can't tell you much more.

"She'd obviously done lots of practice at home, including with the blindfold, and we'd had no trouble, but the occasion just got to her.

Jedd O'Keeffe, trainer of Mystic Moonshadow: 'we like her a lot and can see her winning races'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"We really like her and think she's a nice filly. She's bound to improve an awful lot for her debut – mine always do – but we like her a lot and can see her winning races.

"She'll have to pass a stalls test before she can run again, but I wouldn't anticipate trouble and we'll do lots more practice at home and hopefully resume her career on the track."

Bez's Racing Club was the idea of the same team behind the Burrow Seven Racing Syndicate, which raised more than £50,000 for motor neurone disease in its first month and is part of a wider charity effort in the name of Leeds Rhinos, England and Great Britain Rugby League legend Rob Burrow.

O'Keeffe, based in North Yorkshire, trains Burrow Seven for that partnership and added: "Bez has been to the yard a couple of times and is great fun, really down to earth. He's brilliant with all the staff and a lot of fun to be around."

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