LUKE LITTLER will take a break from his Cheltenham Festival betting frenzy to try and become darts’ Sheriff of Nottingham.
But Jonny Clayton hopes he is the FAVOURITE on Thursday and can cash in because the boy wonder has been too busy with jockeys, not the oche.
The Nuke, 19, was in unstoppable form last weekend as he defended his UK Open crown at Butlin’s Minehead.
It came days after his £10,000 success last Thursday in the Premier League in Cardiff when he beat Clayton in the final to kick-start his campaign and move him up to third in the eight-man table.
Littler, all suited and booted, has spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the Festival, “chilling” at the racecourse with girlfriend Faith and rivals Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall.
Having laid down his darts, it has been a profitable few days with some big-money winners – with one bet totalling more than £2,000.
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Former Prem champion Littler plays Gerwyn Price in the Prem quarter-finals in a city where he has yet to taste a £10,000 nightly victory.
And then on Friday he is racing back to Gloucestershire to watch the Gold Cup – the pinnacle of the four-day meet – rather than travel to Germany for the European Darts Trophy.
The world No1 said: “I have broken many records. I had a little dry spell, but I think I can say I’m back.
“The form hasn’t gone my way in the Premier League, so to win last week in Cardiff meant a lot.
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“I don’t think many people expected me to win in the Premier League on Thursday, and I don’t think many people expected me to come to the UK Open and win.
“I played well in patches, missed a lot of doubles, but if I can win major titles not playing my best, then what can I do when I am at my best?”
Table-topper Clayton, 51, is taking on Michael van Gerwen in the last eight in the East Midlands and justifying his call-up into the tournament he won in 2021.
Unlike the two Lukes, the Welsh veteran is not a fan of the racing and has been prepping hard in Nottingham while Littler, the reigning world champion, has been splashing the cash.
The Ferret said: “I don’t have much interest in horses to be honest.
“A horse to me is something that eats grass in the field. I don’t get the things that go around tracks. I’m not a betting man.
“I have looked on social media and I’ve seen that they are doing alright there.
“Obviously that’s their kind of thing but not for me. I’ve come up here a day early while they’re still enjoying the races.
“I’ve got to focus on darts, not the horses. Hopefully I’m the favourite. I hope they’re a bit worse for wear Thursday night!
“I hope they’ve had a great party. They love that kind of thing. But I am sure they’ll be ready.”