Brooks Koepka’s LIV Golf horse Smashes it at Warwick and now fancied for Cheltenham heroics

A race horse named after five-time major golf winner Brooks Koepka stormed to the podium at Warwick Racecourse on Monday.

"Givemefive", which is a part of LIV Team Smash GC's stable and is owned by Koepka and fellow golf pro Graeme McDowell, eased to victory, prompting some calls that it could be a contender at the Cheltenham Festival later this year.

At the 1.05pm meeting at Warick, the four-year old horse trained by Harry Dernham coasted to a first place finish by 18 lengths, defying a penalty in style. Jockey Paul O'Brien pulled his charge well clear of runner up trainer A J Honeyball's Baltic Voyage, with Donald McCain Jr's Camarrate claiming third place. American golfer Koepka quit the PGA to join the LIV Golf four in the summer of 2022, and has since been followed Jon Rahm in a mega money deal, as well as the likes of Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson.

In May 2023, Koepka won PGA Championship at the Oak Hill Country Club, making him the first LIV Golf player to win a major championship. It was current world number one's fifth career major victory and third PGA Championship. He also became just the 20th golfer to claim five major titles and the third golfer to win three or more PGA Championships in the stroke play era behind Jack Nicklaus (five wins) and Tiger Woods (four).