Peter Crouch really can do it all. Score goals, make podcasts and nail a Tom Cruise-style slide for those old enough to remember the movie Risky Business. (No, me either).
This Cheltenham there’ll be one mainstay of the Festival – the couch – so we wanted to celebrate the viewers’ saddle by putting the UK’s favourite couple on it.
Our new advert for the Cheltenham Festival is finally here and it stars ex-footballer Peter Crouch and his wife Abbey. Peter is shown preparing to watch the Festival at home, while being commentated on by racing pundits Matt Chapman and Gina Bryce, as they assess our stallion ahead of the Greatest Show On Turf.
Crouchy has been the star of the show before, of course. Last year he tried his luck as a jockey – much to the dismay of Cheltenham’s finest Ruby Walsh. The big man also starred in a football advert which launched at the start of this season.
The tongue-in-cheek video opens on Peter in bed, waggling his (enormous) feet as he watches the racing – introduced by Chapman as “number four, Definitely Punching”.
Wife Abbey throws Peter a pair of lucky pants, before he flicks through various football shirts in the wardrobe, Chapman quipping “he’s moved stables a lot” – in reference to Crouch playing for 12 (TWELVE) different teams.
ITV Racing presenter Matt marvels at Crouch’s height, observing “he must be 20 hands at least.” While Gina jokes that Crouch is “unlikely to be wanted for breeding”. Cheltenham’s most successful jockey of all time, Ruby Walsh, makes a cameo, remarking: “Even the Irish will back this English banker.”
Eventually, Peter settles down onto the couch to watch all the action, where he accepts a snack from Abbey – a crunchy carrot. Of course.
Crouchy said: “It’s not often I’m compared to a thoroughbred.
Usually, it’s just ‘workhorse’.
ITV Racing pundit and Paddy Power News tipster Matt Chapman said: “Peter and Abbey could not have been more charming – I’m sure they said the same about me. Take 20 prepared me for the end of lockdown, when pubs open. I’m ready to order!”
Sky Sports racing presenter Gina Bryce added: “If 12 hours filming in his pants in the company of Matt Chapman got to the bottom of Peter, he was too polite to show it – a true professional.”
While Ruby Walsh, Cheltenham’s most successful jockey of all time, said: “I’ve definitely seen worse jumpers than Crouchy, but could he do it on a cold, wet, windy night in Doncaster? Not so sure – he’s no Honeysuckle.”
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