TV TIPSTER CRAIG HITS THE JACKPOT
THOROUGHBRED Craig Stanley has always shown he’s got champion credentials – only this time it’s earned him a £25,000 TV windfall!
The 37-year-old put his extensive knowledge in the world of horse racing to good use by scooping a share of the jackpot in an ITV Racing competition.
Stanley picked up the biggest win of his life after picking seven winners out of seven in the free-to-enter ITV7 competition, featuring meets at Newbury and Sandown Park.
But he was made to sweat right to the death as he headed into the final race – the Grade 3 Diomed Stakes at Newbury – as one of 311 punters in with a shout of claiming the £50,000 jackpot with six straight successes.
Milestone
In the end, it was just Stanley and one other entrant celebrating from their own front rooms as his final horse, 5-1 shot Century Dream, ridden by James Doyle, completed a cosy pillar-to-post victory to spark mass celebration.
“It was an unbelievable feeling,” the former Bristol Rovers, Aldershot Town, Eastleigh and Lincoln City midfielder told The NLP.
“I’ve entered the ITV7 competition for a few years now but never thought I would even come close to winning. After five from five, I got a mention off Mark Chapman on TV as top of the leaderboard and put it on Twitter that I was top in with a chance. Then, when the sixth came in, the nerves really kicked in.
“With eight runners, we knew there would be at least one winner out of the 311 and my horse started strongly. The last couple of furlongs seemed to take an age but somehow it managed to hold on. I couldn’t believe it! Five yards longer it would have lost.
“The money has come at just the right time and will make a huge difference to my family. We are currently looking at moving house so it’s going to be a huge help.”
After turning out for hometown club Lancaster City and Clitheroe last season, Stanley is currently without a club ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.
But the midfielder-cum-centre back insists he is not ready to hang up his boots just yet and wants just one more season to complete a milestone, and give him a leg-up in achieving the next rung of his career path
– as a coach.
Aim
“I’ve had a few offers but I’m just chilling out and having a bit of family time first, before I decide what to do next,” Stanley added.
“But, I’m not ready to quit playing just yet. I’ve got eight games to go until my 700th appearance, so I’d like to at least see that out and finish on a high.
“Coaching is my next aim though. I’ve done my B licence, so need to get my A next.
It’s just about getting the opportunity that’s right for all parties.
“I’m probably not quite ready yet, but in the next six to twelve months to gear myself towards a career in management, get up to date and wait for an opportunity to come. I think I’ve got plenty to offer.”