Set against the turbulent mid 1980s of money, privatisation, unions and dramatic media evolution: A lifelong group of friends find themselves at the bad end of a redundancy pay-out and invest their savings into a racehorse, hoping that one final race can turn their fortunes around.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Bob HoskinsPercy 'Smudge' Smith | Percy 'Smudge' Smith |
 Jenny AgutterShirley Baxter | Shirley Baxter |
 Phil DavisThreads | Threads |
 Vincent ReganJago | Jago |
| CCalum MacNabMark 'Bax' Baxter | Mark 'Bax' Baxter |
 Emily AtackKatie | Katie |
 Rita TushinghamMartha | Martha |
 Dudley SuttonAlfie Hobnails | Alfie Hobnails |
 Jason MazaMickey | Mickey |
 Kate MagowanNatalie Cheam | Natalie Cheam |
 Terry StoneJohnny Gossamer | Johnny Gossamer |
 Perry BensonSefton Wallace | Sefton Wallace |
 Lucy DriveErica | Erica |
 Montserrat LombardBecka | Becka |
 Rebecca FerdinandoCheryl | Cheryl |
 Adam DeaconSam The Soleman | Sam The Soleman |
 Tom DavisGutsy George | Gutsy George |
| MMark HarrisHarry 'The Horse' Fenton | Harry 'The Horse' Fenton |
 Linda RobsonLil | Lil |
 Johnny PalmieroGeorge | George |
 Brian CroucherPhil | Phil |
 Richard BlackwoodLinton | Linton |
 Joe SimsLifeguard | Lifeguard |
 Rupert Holliday-EvansVicar | Vicar |
 Linal HaftTed | Ted |