A GROUP of pals bought a racehorse in honour of a good friend who was killed by Covid — and watched him win his debut race.
The syndicate paid £35,000 for the grey gelding after married dad Kenny Riley, 53, died, naming him C’mon Kenny.
The 12 took the five-year-old to Ludlow racecourse for his first run with them as owners and he came in first at 10-1 in the last race.
He followed his Shropshire victory with a second place then won at his next outing at Sandown Park in Surrey.
A percentage of the £8,000 winnings have gone to Kenny’s wife and two sons.
Syndicate manager Kenny’s best friend Matthew Hilton, 53 said: “It’s been a fairytale start. Kenny, like all of us, loved backing a winner!”
Kenny died in January six days after being admitted to hospital in Manchester.
The chauffeur drove for a host of football names such as Man City boss Pep Guardiola and United’s Paul Pogba.
‘A fairytale start’
His syndicate — called NE Chance — includes former Man United and Sunderland defender John O’Shea, 40.
Matthew said: “Kenny was universally liked in Manchester and when he died it left a hole in our hearts.
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“We hit on the idea of buying a horse and naming it after him and it’s been a fairytale start so far.
“We’d love the Hollywood ending in Kenny’s memory.”
On C’mon Kenny’s first win in April, he added: “I was in a meeting so had to watch the race on my phone.
“I broke down and cried at the table as he crossed the line. The trainer told us he was a beautiful horse and just like Kenny in spirit and he wasn’t wrong.”
Trainer Ian Williams, 52, said: “I’ve known Matthew for a while now and it was apparent in his conversation to me that the lads had lost a great friend so early in life. And it was such a sad loss.
“The horse was bred to be a decent two-year-old and he could yet be a decent flat horse. He evidently has a lot of ability.”
