H&H news editor prepares to race for charity at Goodwood

Television presenter Alice Plunkett, racehorse trainer and former national hunt jockey Brendan Powell, international dressage rider Andrew Gould and H&H news editor Abigail Butcher will be among the line-up in a charity race at Goodwood.

The Goodwood celebrity charity race, run over 1 mile 3 furlongs, takes place at 1.30pm on Thursday 2 October — in aid of Spinal Research, Racing Welfare and local Sussex trust Boxgrove Priory.

Double bronze Olympic medallist Tina Cook was due to ride until her horse went lame last Friday. Instead, the event rider will be starting the flat race tomorrow.

H&H’s Abi Butcher has been training solidly for the past two weeks, riding out for Epsom-based trainer James Boyle and Newmarket-based trainer John Berry.

She will be riding Hawkstar Express, known as Porky in the stable, a three-year-old in training with James Boyle.

“It was a real honour to be asked to take part in the race — it’s the chance of a lifetime to race around Goodwood,” said Abi.

“It’s been hard work trying to get as fit as I can in a fortnight — but really fun. I’ve been completely bitten by the racing bug again.”

She added: “It’s very kind of Jim Boyle and the owners of Hawkstar Express — Inside Track Racing Club — to let me have the ride tomorrow. Porky is a beautiful horse.”

For more information visit www.spinal-research.org or to sponsor Abi, email abi_butcher@ipcmedia.com

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