Betting Firm Paddy Power Releases Spot Featuring Horse Appearing To Jump Moving Car

Two-time Grand National winner Ruby Walsh "appears to jump his horse over a moving car in the latest promotional advert for betting firm Paddy Power," according to Adam Shergold of the London DAILY MAIL. The 22-second clip shows Ruby Walsh galloping toward the speeding silver car and "apparently jumping it as the bookmaker gears up for Saturday's big race at Aintree." Irish jockey Walsh, who is riding Ballycasey in the race, starts the clip by saying, "This is how I've been getting ready for this year's Grand National." Paddy Power claims he jumped "straight over the car, which was said to be travelling at 40mph." The horse "barely clears the car's roof before landing." It is not the first time the bookmaker has produced a "controversial advert ahead of a major racing festival." In Feb. '12, a publicity stunt prior to the Cheltenham Festival featured a "suited hitman firing tranquillizer darts at unsuspecting members of the public," promising to "take care of the chavs -- veterinary style." Another ad released ahead of the 2012 Cheltenham Festival showed a clip of transgender racegoers and "invited viewers to spot the 'stallions' from the 'mares.'" It was banned from TV broadcast by the Advertising Standards Authority after it received 92 complaints the ad was offensive and "condoned and encouraged harmful discriminatory behaviour" (DAILY MAIL, 4/7).