UNLIKE most who hope to line up for the Horseware Event Riders Challenge Race, Killinick’s Clare Lambert has some race-riding experience. Unlike most jockeys, Clare has a 100% strike rate as she won a ladies’ bumper at Limerick’s 2003 Christmas meeting on her only proper racecourse ride.

Her mount in the 12-runner race that December afternoon was a four-year-old named Present Abbey who was trained by the rider’s sister Ann and ran in the colours of their cousin, Patrick Lambert. Patrick bred the Presenting mare and has since bred eight foals out of her including Get Help, a five-year-old gelding by Gold Well, sire of the two-star international eventer Goldman.

The winner of a maiden on her only outing in a point-to-point the previous March, Present Abbey was having her third start in a bumper when Clare got the leg-up at Limerick. While sent off at 10/1 and at 25/1 on those earlier occasions, Present Abbey was despatched as 7/2 favourite in the ladies’ race and duly rewarded punters by two lengths.

“I used to ride out a lot for Ann and had the opportunity then to ride in a few schooling bumpers.” said Clare who has yet to renew her association with a racing saddle. “I have been back out running and also have 30 event horses to oversee at River Lodge which keeps me fit enough. I have to thank Michelle (Kenny) for organising the sponsorship for me for the race.”

Daily trips to and from River Lodge Equestrian and pounding the roads were put on hold last week as Clare plus daughters Correna and Scarlet were unable to get out of Grange because of the snow. “We have no water and no electricity and have six horses here to do,” said the Co Wexford horsewoman on Saturday morning. Meanwhile her husband, Mark Ollard, was up in a snowy Mullingar where he is huntsman of the Westmeath Foxhounds.