Ride at the Cheltenham Festival

All race fans dream of riding at the Cheltenham Festival and by entering the charity flat race on St Patrick’s Thursday that dream can come true.

Amateur riders who can raise £5,000 can take part in the St Patrick’s Derby, run for the sixth time on the third day of the Festival (12 March 2015).

The race is for 12 horses over 1m5f flat course carrying a weight of no more than 11st10lbs.

Participants must provide their own mount, which must have run at least twice under Rules. Point-to-pointers can run subject to individual clearance.

Cheltenham’s chosen charity for the 2015 race is the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF).

“It will be almost two years to the day that JT McNamara has his tragic accident at The Festival. This makes being involved in the charity race particularly poignant, as it is so terribly important that there is an ongoing awareness of the vital work that we do,” said Lisa Hancock, the IJF’s chief executive.

Previous winners of the race include eventer Tina Cook who won in 2012 (pictured) before winning a silver medal at the London Olympics, TV presenter Lorna Fowler, Orna Madden, Brian Bunyan and Vicky Laing.

Entries close at midnight on 17 November and should be made to Sarah Oliver, tel 01886 884488 or via sph.oliver@btinternet.com

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