ANOTHER two riders have been added to the list of those taking on this year’s Corinthian Challenge of a series of three flat races over the summer in aid of Irish Injured Jockeys.

Keen horsewoman Jessica O’Gara (right), with experience of eventing and hunting, mother of five, wife of rugby legend Ronan and originally from Cork is prepping for the challenge.

Also originally from Cork, Diana Hogan Murphy comes from a hunting background. Diana is a pharmacist in University Hospital Galway, has previously competed in the World Ironman Championships and has completed 14 marathons in a single year.

Derby competition winners

THANKS to all who entered our recent postal competition for Irish Derby tickets. We asked how many Irish classics have been staged away from the Curragh and the answer is none. Two tickets were posted earlier this week to Donal Heffernan (Mallow), John Tuite (Naas), Philip Duffy (Curragh), Matt Reilly (Kells) and Lena Farrell (Durrow).

Godolphin generousity

GODOLPHIN chief Sheikh Mohammed has paid around £60,000 to help locals in a small Cornish village buy a new community centre. Residents of Godolphin Cross near Helston wrote to the Sheikh because of the village’s link with the operation and he agreed to make up the shortfall between the money already raised and the cost of the building. The village is historically linked with the second Earl of Godolphin and a horse called the Godolphin Arabian. A bay colt foaled in Yemen in the early 18th century, he was eventually sold to the earl and is one of foundation horses of the modern thoroughbred. Richard McKie, of the Godolphin Cross Community Association, said: “These kinds of things don’t normally happen. It’s a fairytale, really.”

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