Jump legends dust off their boots for charity flat race

Jump racing’s legends will take to the saddle again next month for a charity race at Kempton.

Richard Dunwoody, Peter Scudamore, John Francome, Adrian Maguire, Steve Smith Eccles, Norman Williamson, Brendal Powell, Simon Sherwood, Hywel Davies, Colin Brown and Barney Clifford will ride together in the Cortaflex National hunt Legends Charity Race.

Phil Middleton, managing director of Cortaflex, will also ride as a “wild card”.

The flat race will raise charity money for Richard’s forthcoming trek to the South Pole — upon which he embarks in November.

Since retiring from the saddle eight years ago, Richard has undertaken two arctic challenges, but this is his toughest to date. With two others, he will trek 650 miles in temperatures averaging -40c for about 14hr per day, for 60 days — pulling a 200lb sled on skis.

He is doing the trek to raise money for Spinal Research, Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids (SPARKS) and Racing Welfare.

“The race will inevitably be ultra-competitive,” said Richard. “Unfortunately, I have to get my weight down for the race, and up for the expedition, which makes things interesting!”

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