fontwell in royal threat to bookmakers

Hours after Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot, the nine-year-old lines up in a handicap chase at 5.30pm.

Fittingly, Royal Wedding is a son of the sire King’s Best and the mare Liaison, hence the name, and he won at Fontwell in February.

He will be ridden by Liam Treadwell, who rode 100-1 outsider Mon Mome to victory in the 2009 Grand National.

Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: “It could easily be the best-backed horse we’ve seen in ages and could land us with a multi-million pound headache.”

However, trainer Nick Gifford insists Royal Wedding’s participation is purely coincidental. “This race slotted into his schedule,” he said.

“He was not left in the race on purpose because of the Royal wedding. He’s a winner at Fontwell, after all, and will love the fast ground.”

Today’s meeting at Doncaster is already a sell-out, with gates opening at 10.30am so spectators can watch the wedding before a six-race card where jockey Ryan Moore hopes to close the gap on Yorkshire pacesetter Paul Hanagan in this season’s title race.