SUNDAY at the Curragh sees the second leg of the 2023 Corinthian Challenge take place.

The first leg was staged at Naas in August and was won by Damien Moore from Kildare. The final leg will be run at Leopardstown in October.

Points are awarded to the first four home in each race and the participant with the most points will be crowned the Corinthian Challenge Champion.

Aimee Murphy finished fourth at Naas and is hoping to climb the leaderboard on Sunday. From Newry in Co Down, Aimee is living in Kildare and riding out for Michael Halford, Tracey Collins and Sarah Dawson. She is a very experienced horsewoman who loves to hunt and she has competed in show jumping up to Grand Prix level. She also has her own yard.

This week Aimee answers our questions.

Q: Why did you sign up for the Challenge?

AM: I’m honoured to have the opportunity to not only share the weighroom with the professionals and to ride on three of Ireland’s best flat tracks. I signed up for the Challenge with no expectations but to have fun. I can’t wait for my mum and dad see me ride in the home straight. They’ve watched me show jump all my life and have never seen me on a racehorse. It’s a dream come true.

Q: Do you have any family background in racing or where did your interest come from?

AM: My mum’s brother Michael McManus rode out racehorses for years and my grandfather worked horses in the forestry 50 years ago. My dad took an interest in horses after he left school, so horses have always been around the family. Dad first put me on a horse when I was six months old and I have been hooked ever since. At an early age I rode ponies and competed in show jumping competitions and hunted for many seasons.

Q: How is your training going and who is helping you?

AM: I ride out at two fantastic yards for three talented trainers. They have given me the opportunity to ride some amazing horses over the past few months. Training is going well and the more experience I’m getting the more confident I am. I would like to thank Sarah Dawson for giving me a job riding out for her for the past year. Sarah has taught me what it takes to ride a racehorse and given me opportunities to go racing with her. Also, I must thank Michael Halford and Tracey Collins for giving me more riding experience and advice. It would not be possible to do any of this without these people and I thank them for it all.

Q: What is the biggest sacrifice you have had to make so far as part of your commitment to the Challenge?

AM: I’m originally from a small village in Co Down called Forkhill, I now reside in Kildare which was a big change for me, as it was my first time moving out of home and I’m loving it so far.

Q: What do you do for a living?

AM: In 2018 I qualified as a beautician and make-up artist. I was still riding out my show jumping horses in the evening and, after I qualified, I left the salon to pursue a career in show jumping. Although I loved working in the beauty industry, I’m not a person to be kept inside. I first started exercising horses for James Kernan and Linda Fahey, who taught me so much, and now I’m riding out full-time six to seven days a week and absolutely loving it.

Q: Who are your racing heroes and why?

AM: There are so many amazing talented jockeys out there, all of them unbelievable at what they do. I do, however, look up to a flat female jockey, Siobhan Rutledge. Siobhan is the most down-to-earth girl I have ever met, and I had the privilege of riding work with her around my home track, Dundalk Stadium. She is so unbelievably talented and her dedication to the sport is amazing.

To support Aimee visit irishinjuredjockeys.com and select Aimee’s fundraising page.

Web: corinthianchallenge.com

CURRAGH SUNDAY RACECARD >>56-57

LEADERBOARD

Rider Pts

Damien Moore 10

Michael O’Neill 7

Katy Brown 5

Aimee Murphy 3