THIS should be a spectacle to get the audience on its feet as champion jockeys A.P. McCoy and Richard Hughes are set for a showdown as they go head-to-head in a show jumping challenge at Olympia, The London International Horse Show on Friday, December 19th.

They lead the line-up for the Markel Champions Challenge between jump jockeys and flat jockeys in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund in Britain. In the jump jockey squad will be John Francome, Sam Twiston-Davies and Sam Thomas, while representing flat jockeys with Hughes will be Hayley Turner, Jim Crowley and Adam Kirby.

John Francome, who had a successful show jumping career as a teenager before becoming a professional jockey and is now president of the Injured Jockeys Fund, said: “Riding at Olympia is going to be good fun for us all. Of course it’s in aid of a great cause, the Injured Jockeys Fund, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be ultra-competitive!’’ Flat jockey Hayley Turner, with her ever competitive spirit, has been busy brushing up on her show jumping skills by recently getting some extra tuition from top show jumper Ben Maher and her team are up for the challenge.

If you can’t be there, catch all the action of Olympia on BBC2 on Sunday, December 21st.