IT’s very disappointing that the Anglo Irish riders’ challenge due to be staged tomorrow at Dowth is not going ahead, due to an error in the published conditions of the two challenge races, but there will definitely be a pony race at the end of the joint Meath and Tara fixture.

Six members of Irish Pony Club branches are due to line up at the start of this Connolly’s Red Mills-sponsored race, all of whom will first have to undergo a tack inspection in the parade-ring. Horses/ponies must not have raced under rules on the track, in point-to-points or under the rules of the Horse and Pony Racing Association.

Similar races were run last season at Quakerstown and Dromahane but it’s a pity more hunts don’t follow suit.

Tomorrow’s riders are as follows:

  • Alex Harvey (Ward Union Branch) A winner here two years ago on the pony Zola Budd, Alex (14) will get the leg-up tomorrow on the 15hh mare Teeling’s Hope on whom he hunts with the Fingal Harriers and competes successfully in hunter trials. Alex, who will ride in the yellow and black hooped colours of his grandfather Dave Harvey, had a busy summer riding out for Stamullen trainer Tom McCourt and won the award presented after the Irish Pony Club jockeys’ skills course held at the Racing Academy and Centre of Education.
  • Kevin Healy (Westmeath Branch) Kevin (11) has been a member of his local Pony Club for the past five years and, in the last two seasons, represented the branch at the national minimus championships in Punchestown. He hunts with both the Westmeath Harriers and the Longford Harriers and really enjoys hunter trialling and eventing. Tomorrow, Kevin, who rides Ginja Ninja, will be the one in green with an orange circle, white sleeves and a green and orange stripped cap.
  • Jack Kearney (Meath Branch) Now 12, Jack has been riding since he was three but, while he is a horse fanatic, he also plays football and hurling for his local GAA club. He has represented his branch in mounted games, show jumping, Tetrathlon and hunter trials and recently won a hunter trials at Carlanstown. This will be Jack’s third time to ride in one of these Pony Club races and he will do so in wine with a cream star back and front and a cream cap. He spends most Saturdays helping local trainer Pat Martin. Jack rides the 14.2hh pony Little Arrow.
  • Julie McDonald (Laois Branch) This 14-year-old is another who did the recent jockeys’ skills course at RACE and she said she had a fantastic time. She had her first ride in a pony race during the summer and loved it, riding a few times since.
  • Julie enjoys hunting with the Laois Foxhounds and has taken part in many hunter trials and show jumping competitions. Tomorrow, she will wear green and pink checks with a plain pink hat on board Its Father Ted, a 14.2hh six-year-old.
  • Sarah McNally (Ward Union Branch) Having her second ride at Dowth tomorrow, 13-year-old Sarah is another follower of the Fingal Harriers. She won an inter-schools’ league last winter and, during the summer, competed in her first Tetrathlon. Sarah’s colours for tomorrow are white with black braces and a checked cap and she will be on board Nelly, a 10-year-old 14.2hh bay Connemara mare.
  • Cillian Power (Meath Branch) Cillian (12), who would like to be a flat jockey when he is older and has already ridden work on the gallops, spent the summer playing mounted games. Cillian, who also does show jumping and hunting, will be wearing blue and yellow tomorrow (with a green and yellow cap) on board the six-year-old 15.1hh black pony Scurlog.