PETER O’Reilly, chief executive of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, has been known to do some mad-cap fundraising for charity in the past and he is asking for your support for his latest escapade.

He has signed up to ride in the Newmarket Town Plate on Saturday, August 22nd.

Run over almost four miles, the Plate is one of the oldest in the world - dating back to 1666.

Peter is hoping to raise funds for two worthy charities - Pat Smullen Cancer Trials and the My name’5 Doddie Foundation, which funds research to find effective treatments for motor neurone disease.

“It’s all systems go and I am in full training,” says Peter, “Dylan Cunha is very kindly supplying me with a horse, and thanks also to the very helpful Jill Crook of the National Trainers Federation and Giles Anderson of Owner Breeder.”

Web: gofund.me/4159164d6