Top horse trainer looks completely unrecognisable with new look amid daughter’s health battle

A top horse trainer looked completely unrecognisable after shaving his head amid his young daughter’s heartbreaking health battle.

Welsh horseman Christian Williams was famed for his long, flowing locks.

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But he shed them all to sport a new shaven look at Newton Abbott racecourse on Monday.

Williams, whose best horses include the likes of Kitty’s Light and Potters Corner, chopped his hair off in support of six-year-old daughter Betsy.

She was diagnosed with leukaemia last March and earlier this month started chemotherapy.

Williams posted a brilliant photo alongside a smiling Betsy and wrote next to it: #nohairdontcare.”

The former jockey turned trainer has spoken of the ‘dark days’ his family have endured since Betsy’s devastating diagnosis.

The whole of racing has rallied round the family of four – with a Just Giving page set up to raise money absolutely obliterating its £5,000 target.

More than £22,000 has been raised and the money continues to come in, showing the love Williams and his family have received.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing he said: “Obviously my little one’s not very well at the moment, she’s lost all her hair.

“It all came out last week. I was booked in (for a haircut) anyway but decided to take it all off.”

Betsy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia during Cheltenham Festival week.

She is now undergoing a six-month period of intensive treatment and Charlotte, Christian’s wife, said she had been doing ‘amazing’.

She told the Racing Post: “Her little body has been through so much, but she’s playing, happy and smiling.

“Kids are resilient, they live for the here and now and she deserves enormous credit. She’s powering through and doing us proud.

“Things have felt a bit desperate sometimes and we’ve been down in the dumps and had our dark days, but people have just been so kind.

“It really lifts you – even just the messages on Twitter.

“People’s kindness gets you through the crappy days.

“I never thought we’d be in this position and I never knew how kindness can make you feel so much better.

“It makes a huge difference – people might not realise it, but it really helps.”

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