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Stephen Bunting credits hypnotist for his revival after winning Masters title

  • Bunting beat Michael van Gerwen 11-7 to secure PDC darts title
  • World No 16 opens up on mental health issues caused by slump

Stephen Bunting has opened up on his mental health issues and revealed how working with a hypnotist has helped to turn his career around.

The 38-year-old won his first televised PDC title on Sunday in the Masters, beating Michael van Gerwen 11-7 in the final in Milton Keynes. Bunting’s previous biggest career title came in 2014, when he won the BDO world championship.

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Milton Harris stripped of training licence after ‘bullying’ and ‘inappropriate behaviour’

  • BHA panel states trainer is ‘not a fit and proper person’
  • Evidence of WhatsApp messages to former employees

The turbulent career of Milton ­Harris appeared to reach an abject conclusion on Wednesday when the Grade One-winning trainer’s licence was removed indefinitely by the ­British Horseracing Authority’s Licensing Committee, due to multiple breaches of its conditions ­including significant financial mismanagement, initiating a campaign of bullying and intimidation against fellow trainer Simon Earle, who shared some of his facilities, and serious concerns around safeguarding issues at his yard.

The panel’s decision that Harris is “not a fit and proper person” to hold a licence marks the end of his second spell as a trainer. The first, between 2000 and 2011, ended when he was made bankrupt over an unpaid tax bill, and he spent seven years out of the sport until the BHA, which had turned down two applications in the intervening period, finally agreed to reissue his licence in 2018, subject to a number of conditions.

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Talking Horses: Sunday night races may result in serious jockey burnout

A winning rider saying ‘I wish I wasn’t here’ told its own story about the sport’s latest money-spinning exercise

A winning jockey’s post-race comments after picking up a decent prize rarely stray beyond gratitude to the horse’s owner and trainer, and how much they are looking forward to being aboard next time up. “I wish I wasn’t here” is unusual, to say the least.

But that was the gist of Callum Shepherd’s comments after his win aboard Charlie’s Choice in the 5pm race at Wolverhampton on Sunday, the opener on the first of six “trial” cards over the next few weeks, which will explore the potential of Sunday evening racing to expand the sport’s audience and boost betting turnover.

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