THE 13 participants in this year’s Corinthian Challenge Charity Race have been revealed. This year’s ‘mad hatters’ include riders from Qatar, Britain and Australia, as well as Ireland, and all are raising funds for Irish Injured Jockeys. Their big moment arrives on Friday, June 27th at the Curragh, the first evening of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival.

The Irish Field will carry profiles of all the participating riders in the coming weeks, but some names already look familiar to us.

Susan Salter is a veterinary surgeon whose expert advice has frequently appeared in these pages, and the same comment applies to Nicole Groyer of Connolly’s Red Mills. Alisha McCormack, office administrator for Irish Injured Jockeys, has also been brave enough to put her name down and no doubt Alisha will be seeking advice from her brother Paddy Flood, a former jockey and current jockey coach.

Michael Higgins, IIJ general manager, said: “Building on the past success of the Corinthian Challenge, our goal was to enhance its attractiveness for participants, spectators, and the media this year with the event being held on Dubai Duty Free Derby weekend.

“We sincerely thank this year’s challengers for their remarkable dedication to both participating and fundraising for IIJ. The feedback we’ve received so far has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are all excited for the big day.”

Web: corinthianchallenge.com

Corinthian Challenge Riders

Chloe Kirwan, Alisha McCormack, Susan Salter, Clive Ryan, Grainne Cotter, Julia Crowe, Lydia Rogers, Megan Sheedy, Robin De Pelsmaeker, Lydia Dodd, Mohammed Al Attiyah, Madison Clancy and Nicole Groyer.