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Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting have become racehorse owners after teaming up with Michael Owen. The two-year-old colt in question is fittingly named Bunting Mental.

Reigning PDC world champion Littler is accustomed to battling with Bunting on the oche but the pair have united to acquire a horse alongside former Liverpool and Manchester United striker Owen. Bunting Mental is trained by Cheshire-based handler Hugo Palmer, who has been working out of Owen's Manor House Stables since 2022. The ex-England international founded the facility in 2006 and commenced operations in 2007, devoting much of his time to racing following his 2013 retirement.

Littler was seen at the Cheltenham Festival in March, taking in the action with his girlfriend Faith Millar. He and Bunting have clearly been motivated to enter ownership.

The two-year-old fetched £54,000 at the sales and is by Group 2 and Listed-winning sprinter Ardad, out of a Bated Breath mare. Ardad notably won the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2016.

Littler and Bunting's horse, named after the latter's famous chant, won't be in action for a few months following a setback, but trainer Palmer offered some complimentary words for the ownership and the colt himself. He told The Sun: "They [Littler and Bunting] haven't been up to the yard yet, they're due to come but they've been busy with the Premier League darts.

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"Stephen is a big racing fan and I think everyone saw how much Luke enjoyed Cheltenham. He has a huge following and he is an extraordinary talent. It's great to have a young guy involved, most of our high-profile sportsmen in horse ownership are of my generation, so it's great to have people of the next generation.

"I think they have a really nice horse on their hands. He has pleased us in everything that he's done, he won't be ready to run for a couple of months but he is a horse we are high on."

Palmer also spoke warmly of Bunting Mental while discussing his two-year-olds for the upcoming season. He told Sporting Life: "This lad has been away for a racecourse gallop and showed up very well there.

"He finds life incredibly easy and has loads of ability. Franny Norton rides him and said he's all of the W's - 'Will win when wanted.' He's just had a tiny niggle which has pushed him back a month, but we think he will prove more than worth the wait."