ANDY Powell may get his kicks from rugby, but off the pitch his racehorse is proving more than a match for his favourite sport.

Named after a drinking game, Broadway Buffalo had the world at his feet after winning his first five starts.

Co-owned by Powell's rugby mates Dwayne Peel and Mark Cueto, the six year old is looking to build on his early promise by winning over fences for the first time this year.

And the players always manage to squeeze in a visit to the races in between training and matches to roar the gelding on.

Powell, who aims to silence his critics at his new team Newport Gwent Dragons, is that hooked he cannot get enough racing into his hectic schedule.

"We went to Worcester for the horse's debut run and Mark Cueto said it was probably the best buzz he had in his whole life and I've got to agree," he said.

The lads came to buy the then unnamed Broadway Buffalo after Powell struck up a friendship with the jockey Tom Scudamore and he invited them to the David Pipe yard.

There were two horses for sale at the time, one with a hefty price tag and Broadway Buffalo at just 12,000 guineas.

He had been showing the trainer more at home and it was a done deal as the friends liked the look of him. Their charge has since won just under £40,000 of prize money.

"We got a bottle of champagne, Mark Cueto started drinking with his right hand which isn't allowed in our drinking game Buffalo. The sire of the horse is Broadway which is how we ended up with his name," laughed Powell.

The horse's winning streak of five came to an end at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in 2013.

Broadway Buffalo took time to rediscover his form after a wind operation in November last year and ran two good races in defeat at Cheltenham before seeing off a decent type in Kris Spin at Haydock.

He was beaten on his chasing debut at odds of 1-5f but Powell, who's always tweeting about racing, believes he will be better for his summer break with more experience.

The plan is to get his eye in over the smaller obstacles for Chepstow's Silver Trophy, a race he finished fourth in last year.

In time the team have dreams of following in the footsteps of Mike Tindall and his pals from the pitch, who won the Welsh Grand National with Monbeg Dude.

Broadway Buffalo, a possible contender for that race with more experience under his belt, is due to return to training at the end of this month.