Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has entered the realms of racing buying a horse set to go into training with Cheshire trainer Tom Dascombe.

Dascombe’s yard is backed financially by United team-mate Michael Owen whose galloper  Brown Panther was the stable’s star during this year’s English flat season.

The colt won three in a row including the King George V Stakes (2400m) at Royal Ascot.

“I can confirm that Wayne and Coleen (Rooney’s wife) have bought a horse,” a spokesman for Dascombe stable confirmed.

“I can’t confirm all the details as yet as it’s very early stages.

“He’s been down here and obviously liked what he saw and he’s bought a yearling to go into training with us next year.”

English football links to racing is nothing new especially with Manchester United.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is  a keen racing fan and one time owner of multiple Group 1 winner Rock Of Gibraltar

Former England international Mick Channon has made great living out of racing.

Channon scored 21 goals in 46 England appearances during the 1970s.

The Southampton great become one of English flat racing’s leading trainers with several Group 1 winners.

He is also the man who looked after Australian jockey Craig Williams many years ago when the hoop ventured over.

Williams was an average rider when he first left to go overseas but had immediate success with Channon and his confidence and improvement seemingly has never stopped.