PARTICIPATING in the Corinthian Challenge involves admirable commitment to training, as well as riding in the race at the Curragh, all in a bid to raise vital funds for the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund.

Thirteen have signed up to ride in the race, which will take place at the Curragh on Friday, June 26th. They are Jason Kyne, Patrick Stringer, Ivanna Dempsey, Sarah Lionti, Tara Moneypenny, Robin DePelsmaeker, Graham Atkinson, Paul Callaghan, Max Foley, Diego Rodrigues da Costa Almeida, Jerry Scully, Bobby Fagan and Alison McMahon.

Each will have raised at least €3,000 for the valuable cause, with all donations welcome via the website, corinthianchallenge.com

I come from Meath Hill situated in north Co Meath on the Monaghan, Cavan and Louth border. My passion for National Hunt racing began early, long before starting primary school. We used to go to Fairyhouse every Wednesday of the Irish Grand National meeting. I graduated to attending almost all the local fixtures at Fairyhouse, Navan, Bellewstown and Dundalk and branched out further afield to Leopardstown, Sligo, Galway and even The Phoenix Park before it closed, leading me to work with trainer Gerry McArdle at the age of 15.

Fast forward almost three years, I moved to England and joined Tom George’s team as an amateur jockey. Tom supplied me with my first ride on a horse called Dellone at Hereford on December 4th, 2001. We came home in splendid isolation to win by 23 lengths. It was magic! I spent three enjoyable seasons at Tom’s.

Towards the end of the third season, I was picking up plenty of rides in point-to-points and, after a chance meeting at Haydock with trainer Howard Johnson, he booked me to ride his horse Katmandu in an amateur riders’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sedgefield on March 30th, 2004.

As a lifelong Newcastle United fan, it was very special putting on the black and white striped silks of owners Alan Shearer and Terry McDermott. It was made even more special when Katmandu galloped to victory leading me to a job offer from the county Durham handler, a position I was to take up in July of that year.

Winners

I got plenty of rides on the track and managed to ride a few more winners, but unfortunately momentum stalled when I moved up north. After an eight-month spell and time spent on the sidelines with a broken collarbone, it was time to move on.

Henry Daly’s Downton Hall Stables just outside Ludlow, overlooking the racecourse, was the next stop. I got plenty of rides while based with Henry, riding at the Cheltenham Festival, over the Grand National fences at Aintree, at the Galway Festival. It was great.

Towards the end of my third season, Henry’s horses were running below par and opportunities from the trainer had dried up. I decided to move back up north.

I spent a few seasons in the north as a freelance before returning home to Ireland. I was very lucky to live my dream and ride for some of the best trainers, including Richard Fahey and the late Ferdy Murphy.

Media move

After suffering multiple injuries over the years, I moved to the media side of racing through JETS. I completed media training at Racing TV and CSports Media. I completed a marketing course and earned an honours degree in Business from DKIT.

In January 2023, I joined The Irish Field team as an Advertising Executive. I MC and tip in the hospitality suites at Fairyhouse, Navan and MC at Dundalk.

I also present on Racing TV. I’m very lucky to be still involved in the industry and it’s a dream come true to be able to ride at the Curragh while supporting the Irish Injured Jockeys, who make a real difference to the lives and welfare of jockeys during difficult times.

Bobby Fagan

Hailing from Kildare, the allure of racing is hard to resist. My family has been involved with horses for as long as I can remember, and I have been around them since my childhood.

In 2006, I enrolled in RACE and gained valuable experience working in both Ireland and England, where I achieved my first victory in a point-to-point race.

Currently, I am employed at Holmestead Saddlery and, although I stepped away from the horse industry eight years ago, I am thrilled to return to riding racehorses. I still enjoy riding and take care of my own hunters.

Embracing this new challenge is exciting, and it will be incredibly special for my family to see me riding around our local track, the Curragh, during Derby weekend. I would like to thank James Fahey and Heather Heffernan for their help in preparing and also my sponsors Mongey Communications.

Tara Moneypenny

I hail from Downpatrick and have been working as an exercise rider in Gordon Elliott Racing.

Before this, I spent seven years in an eventing yard, competing up to the EI100 level. Having been involved in racing for over a year now, I have always been a passionate supporter of the sport. I took part in the Pat Smullen race last year and that has really given me the racing bug.

Witnessing the impact of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund on riders and jockeys, some of whom have become friends, has inspired me to lend my support and raise funds for this worthy cause.