Love Island stars join Coral as #LoveRacing ambassadors
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Chris and Olivia join the team
New for 2018, Coral is delighted to announce that it has signed up Love Island finalists and power couple Chris Hughes and Olivia Attwood as official Coral Ambassadors for the upcoming major horse racing events under the strapline #LoveRacing.
Celebrities of the moment Chris Hughes and Olivia Attwood found fame on ITV’s Love Island, but it is their love of horses and racing that caught bookmaker Coral’s eye.
Coral is teaming up with Chris Hughes on a challenging and thrilling project that will see the reality TV star transform himself into a jockey under the tutelage of legendary trainer Jonjo O’Neill.
Chris Hughes has been accepted to ride in the Best Western Hotels & Macmillan Ride of their Lives charity race at York Racecourse on June 16th 2018. Coral is sponsoring Chris, who is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support in the build up to the race.
To ensure he is ready for the Ride of their Lives charity race, Chris will be undertaking months of intensive training, working with leading Jump trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, at his state of the art training facility at Jackdaws Castle, in the Cotswolds.
Jonjo O’Neill has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup both as a jockey and a trainer, and trained the winner of the World’s most famous race, The Grand National when Don’t Push It won at Aintree in 2010.
Their genuine passion for horses and racing made Chris – a keen rider himself – and Olivia an obvious choice to become Coral Ambassadors.
Coral will be working with the couple on promotional activity throughout the racing season including personal appearances and social media campaigns for the big racing meets of the season.
Along the way Chris will share his journey and training with his fans on social media, and Coral will be documenting Chris’s journey on Coral TV and across its social media channels.
Chris is well-connected within horse racing, numbering a host of well-known jockeys and high-profile trainers amongst his close friends.
Chris Hughes said of the partnership: “I love horse racing and grew up riding with my friends in Cheltenham. I’m really excited to be working with Coral and very grateful to Jonjo O’Neill for his support, as I prepare for entering the Best Western Hotels & Macmillan Ride of their Lives race at York Racecourse.
I always wanted to become a jockey as a kid, and Coral is helping make my dream come true. But I don’t just want to take part – I want to really go for it, and try to win my first race as a jockey!”
“Working with Coral feels really natural for me and Chris, as we really love horses,” commented Olivia Attwood. “And I’m a big fan of the races. I’m really looking forward to enjoying the horse racing season this year.”
Jonjo O’Neill, said: “We have known Chris and his family for many years, and so naturally we are absolutely delighted to be supporting him as he prepares for his goal to become a jockey for the day in the Ride of Their Lives Charity Race, for a brilliant cause in Macmillan Cancer Support.”
Coral PR Director Simon Clare said: “Over the next few months the biggest race meetings in the calendar are taking place, from Cheltenham to Aintree, Epsom to Royal Ascot, and this exciting new partnership with Chris and Olivia, will help us to promote these top class events to a whole new audience.
When we approached Chris with the opportunity of training to be a jockey and riding in a horse race, he jumped at the chance, but he is not content with just taking part, he is absolutely determined to win, and with the help of the brilliant Jonjo O’Neill and his team, I wouldn’t bet against him.”
