WILLIAM Raymond-Barker, a 55-year-old retired police accountant from Skipton, is in the running to win a $3,000 poker holiday to Marbella on the nose of a horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup thanks to a $2 poker tournament at PokerStars.

As part of The Big Race, a special promotion that brings PokerStars and BetStars together, William and up to 18 other players who succeeded in a Cheltenham-themed poker tournament will now be sweating on the Gold Cup tomorrow, each having been allocated a runner.

And there’s a lot on the line. If William’s horse ‘Double Shuffle’ romps its way to victory, he will be awarded a $3,000 PokerStars Festival Marbella package, which includes a €1,100 Main Event buy-in, six nights’ accommodation and money for travel and expenses in June.

“This will be the biggest gamble of my life,” he said. “I am already imagining the race and the feeling of my allocated horse being first past the post. I would love to take part in such an amazing tournament as Marbella and the opportunity to pit my novice skills against some of the best poker players in the world.

“It would simply be incredible and I shall keep my fingers crossed. Even if I don't win any of the major prizes, I still have $50 of free bets to enjoy.”