Darts champions Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting are set to trade in their throwing darts for a new kind of target – the racecourse – after they each took a share in a thoroughbred called Bunting Mental. The pair will see the horse prepared for competition by trainer Hugo Palmer, a name that has already become familiar to sports fans beyond the world of horse racing.
Palmer’s résumé includes guiding Seagulls Eleven, a horse owned by a consortium of footballers that features Premier League stalwarts James Milner of Brighton & Hove Albion and former Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck. The trainer’s own landlord is none other than former England football legend Michael Owen, who is also a passionate racing enthusiast. With the addition of the reigning world darts champion, the ownership group now boasts a blend of talent from two very different sporting arenas. Littler, who was spotted enjoying the atmosphere at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year, has joined forces with Bunting and Owen in a joint venture centred on the son of the stallion Ardad.
The collaboration underscores a growing trend of high‑profile athletes diversifying their portfolios by investing in racehorses, a move that can bring fresh publicity and a wider fan base to the sport. Speaking to the press, Palmer expressed his enthusiasm about the eclectic ownership lineup. “It’s fantastic to have people from such varied corners of the sporting world partnering with us,” he said. “Their involvement certainly adds an extra layer of intrigue when the horses line up at the start.
It won’t magically make them faster, but it does make the whole experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.” He went on to explain the playful naming of the horse, noting, “We kept the darts theme alive by calling him Bunting Mental. He’s by Ardad, but he’s a fairly big, well‑balanced animal and we’ve been pleased with everything we’ve seen from him so far.
I don’t expect to see him race until the summer, though.” The news arrives amid a busy period on the British flat‑racing calendar, with several high‑profile races and storylines unfolding. In Newmarket, Bow Echo secured a classic triumph in the 2000 Guineas, delivering trainer Billy Loughnane his first major win at the historic venue. Meanwhile, Night Raider captured the Palace House Stakes for jockey Karl Burke, adding another notable victory to the season’s tally.
On the media front, rider Hollie Doyle shared a blog post highlighting Paris Babe as her standout mount on 2000 Guineas day, while also offering a preview of the upcoming Royal Ascot Trials. Sky Sports Racing’s programming schedule is packed with exciting fixtures.
Today’s broadcast will feature a showdown between French Derby hopefuls Dolmalan and Montreal at Chantilly, offering viewers a glimpse of the talent that could shape the next generation of classic contenders. The network’s experts also released a forward‑looking list of flat horses to watch in 2026, providing insights into which youngsters may emerge as future stars. In a related development, the 2000 Guineas field saw the late addition of Gstaad after an administrative error by Aidan O’Brien’s camp was rectified, illustrating how quickly the composition of elite races can change in response to paperwork and regulatory nuances. When asked about the partnership, Littler admitted that most of his communication with the other owners has taken place over WhatsApp.
“I’ve only spoken to them via WhatsApp, but they seem very enthusiastic and up for it. They are very excited about the whole journey,” he said, emphasizing the camaraderie and shared excitement that underpins the venture. The involvement of two world‑class darts players in thoroughbred ownership is more than a novelty; it reflects a broader cultural crossover where athletes seek new challenges and investment opportunities beyond their primary disciplines. By aligning themselves with a respected trainer like Hugo Palmer and a seasoned racing enthusiast such as Michael Owen, Littler and Bunting are positioning Bunting Mental to benefit from top‑tier expertise both on the training ground and in the business side of the sport.
Looking ahead, the summer will be a pivotal period for the new ownership group. As the horse matures and prepares for its debut on the track, the trio will likely monitor his progress closely, balancing the excitement of competition with the responsibilities of ownership. Their involvement may also inspire other athletes to explore similar ventures, potentially ushering in a new era where the worlds of darts, football, and horse racing intersect more frequently.
Whether Bunting Mental will live up to the high expectations set by his name and the star‑studded ownership remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the partnership has already generated buzz across multiple sporting communities, and the upcoming summer races will provide the first real test of this unique collaboration.