News Just in…. Horse Confirmed for Cheltenham Charity Derby!

What: The St. Patrick’s Cheltenham Charity Derby in aid of Cancer Research UK

Where: Prestbury Park, Cheltenham

When: Thursday 17^th March 2011

Who: Jockey – Niamh Flynn, Owner – Aiden Murphy, Trainer – Anabel King

Horse: Dormouse

Three weeks to go and I am really beginning to feel the pressure! But things are starting to come together for me and I can only put that down to my hard work and determination!

Monday afternoon I received a call from Bloodstock Agent, Aiden Murphy. A couple of weeks ago when I heard that I had been selected to ride in the Cheltenham St. Patrick’s Day Charity Derby, I phoned Aiden looking for guidance of where to start looking for a suitable horse. He replied…”Leave it with me!” I did leave it with Aiden and sure enough he came back with a more than suitable mount for the race. Dormouse, trained by Anabel King. He has won and been placed on nearly every run so I am really excited about this opportunity.

Today was also Valentines Day and let’s just say I was not disappointed!

With my horse confirmed for the race, I better aim to look somewhat like a jockey! On Tuesday I phoned Laurie from Old Mill Saddlery and she kindly helped to get my racing gear branded up! Whether I can ride like a jockey, which can only be decided on the day, but I can guarantee I will definitely look the part!

With football training called off this Wednesday night, I had to take up some alternative exercise. Katie McGivern joined me in a Boxercise class. I can strongly advise, if you have some excess anger to relieve, this is definitely worth taking up. We began the class by warming up, we learnt the basic boxing moves and then it was into full on punching! I found boxing really good for my upper body strength and discovered that my left arm was a lot weaker than my right so I really have to concentrate on that. Let’s hope Dormouse doesn’t veer left!

I woke up Thursday morning stiffer than I had been in a while. At least I know the boxercise class had been of benefit to me! I completed the Table Quiz Questions this evening. A few hints – refresh on the Cheltenham Festival and Racing past and present and you might just win on the night. Quick reminder to all – I am holding a table quiz this Friday night at Fergie’s Bar, Kilmessan, Co. Meath to fundraise for the Cheltenham St. Patrick’s Day Charity Derby in aid of Cancer Research. The quiz kicks off at 8pm and quiz master on the night is Matt Chapman from At The Races. Teams of four people, €10 per person. There will also be a raffle on the night which I have been selling tickets for and will also be sold on the night. Prizes for the raffle include a two night stay in Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa, Nominations to Robin des Pres and Trans Island, tickets to all the major racing festivals plus many more. Tickets for the raffle are €20.00. For more information, please phone me on 086 1728320 or email nflynn@tattersalls.ie.

I had Friday off from work as I was graduating from a Marketing Course I had completed in DIT at night over the past two years. It was tough going driving into Dublin two nights a week after work but I felt today it was really worth it! Before I headed to the graduation, I paid a visit to Gordon Elliott’s yard where I managed to ride a couple of horses. I was lucky enough this morning to ride work with jockey Davy Condon and asked him to pull me up on any vital mistakes I might be making. He told me “you did everything grand!” I hope he was telling the truth!

I rode out at Gordon’s again on Saturday morning. I thought I was beginning to get the hang of settling a horse on the gallop….that was until Paul Carberry came up sides me and my horse thought it was time for a spot of work and began to speed up! I think Paul was testing my ability to keep control of a horse – let’s hope I am able to keep the same control on the way to the start on the big day!

Racing in Naas on Sunday and the atmosphere was electric there. Naas Racecourse hosted the “Naas Jockey Olympics” and compare on the day was Hector. He really got the crowd going cheering on the jockeys as they competed in the slow bike race, the egg and spoon race, the three legged race, soccer skills – of which Katie Walsh was the only one to score for the Kildare team (a male dominated team!) and the final game came down to the wire. An arm wrestle was the deciding factor of the winning team – Puppy Power’s team! Well done to all, it was really entertaining to watch!

As I write this another donation has just come in online so a big thank you to everyone who is supporting me. My main aim though is to raise as much funds as I can for Cancer Research. All donations, how ever small or large are really appreciated. To donate, phone me on 086 1728320, email nflynn@tattersalls.ie, go to your nearest AIB branch and make a lodgment to account no. 93-70-96 1899 7583 or log on to my Just Giving page – http://www.justgiving.com/Niamh-Flynn.

Chat next week!

Thank you!

Niamh x