Brighton footballers could pocket £525k from 2000 Guineas horse before Newcastle clash

Eleven past and present players will be hoping to pocket £525,000 before even kicking a ball this weekend. The select group of current and retired footballers are all involved in a syndicate called Two Plus Three Two Plus which has a runner in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday, Seagulls Eleven.

The three-year-old is a 40/1 shot to win the Group 1 at Newmarket, just 24 hours before Fabian Hurzeler's side take on at the Amex Stadium.

Seagulls Eleven is trained by Hugo Palmer and based at Manor House Stables in Cheshire, owned by ex-Liverpool star Michael Owen. The colt enjoyed a successful debut season last year, winning at Haydock before placing in two Group 1 races.

The 11 Brighton owners will be hoping that their colt will be able to land the spoils under jockey Tom Marquand on Saturday in the club's iconic blue and white-striped silks.

The group of players - some of whom have moved to other clubs since the syndicate was formed - is headed by James Milner, with Danny Welbeck and Jason Steele also among the stars involved. star Adam Lallana is also involved, having left the Seagulls last summer.

Milner has been involved with other syndicates previously, having shares in Mr McCann along with ex- teammates Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Lallana.

Palmer has trained one winner of the 2000 Guineas previously, Seagulls Eleven's sire Galileo Gold in 2011, and believes that this year's hopeful is capable of emulating that success. Speaking last year about the Two Plus Three Two Plus group, who have three horses in training including Seagulls Eleven, he said: "What's lovely is that while they can't take as close an interest as some owners do, they all seem emotionally invested in it and they engage.

"James Milner had a syndicate of Liverpool players a couple of years ago who were so unengaged that he ended up calling the syndicate Nobody Ever Replies, whereas these guys seem to be really enjoying it. It's one of racing's great strengths that you can watch horses run now wherever you are in the world."

The Brighton stars will be hoping that a victory at Newmarket kickstarts a successful 48 hours for the group as they look to continue their charge for European football on Sunday when taking on Eddie Howe's Newcastle.