Yeeehaaaa!!!!

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

Time Remaining: 2 weeks, 2 days and 6 hours!!!

Just over two weeks before the big day and I am beginning to panic as to whether I have enough preparation done to make me look like a professional jockey in front of 60,000 people on St. Patrick’s Day!

I really knuckled down on Monday to maximize my fitness levels and found myself jogging a lot further than I thought I was able! I spoke to Aiden Murphy, the owner of Dormouse who I am partnering in the charity race and he informed me that he was entered to run on Friday…. A prep race for Cheltenham!!!

I managed to make it into Gordon Elliott’s yard on Tuesday morning to ride work. Gordon has been brilliant in giving me the opportunity to ride work with big names such as Paul Carberry, Davy Condon and Keith Donoghue. It has really helped me build up my confidence and get more experience riding at a faster pace. Gordon is also taking part in the Cheltenham St. Patrick’s Day Charity Derby but as yet he still has to confirm who his mount will be in the race. You can support Gordon my logging on to www.justgiving.com/Gordon-Elliott.

My weekly boxercise class takes place on Wednesday night and oh how I was dreading it after the pain I was in last week! But I know it will all benefit me when I am driving and pushing my horse up the famous Cheltenham Hill! Katie and Rachel joined me tonight and we had a few red faces after it but it was fun!

I arrived to work on Thursday morning to find an email from my sister Aoife at home in Galway informing me I had made the “Galway Advertiser”! This is a big deal for a Galway girl! This was then followed a lovely phone call from Paul Gill of my local Claregalway Hotel wanting to sponsor me for the Charity Race. It was a great start to the day and I am delighted that my fellow Galway people are getting behind me on my road to Cheltenham.

Friday February 25^th had finally arrived and tonight I held a table quiz in Fergie’s Bar, Kilmessan in to raise money for Cancer Research. But before all that happened I arrived into Gordon’s to ride two lots. Today Gordon partnered me with Keith Donoghue and I really couldn’t thank him enough. The advice Keith gave me going around the gallop was invaluable and it was great to have someone point out my faults also!!! Thanks Jacksie!!!

During the day I logged on to the Racing Post website to see how Dormouse has got on in Warwick. He won! I was delighted for Anabel King, Aiden Murphy and their son who rode him, Oliver Murphy but I really felt under pressure now to try maintaining his winning form!

I hadn’t got much sleep on Thursday night wondering had I everything arranged for the table quiz. But it turns out I had.

The night was a huge success and Matt Chapman really got the show going with his witty jokes and constant slagging of the racing names in attendance!

The winning table on the night was made up of Ryan McElligott, Bobby O’Ryan, Mouse O’Ryan and Ger Connolly. Runners up were Louise Parkhill and Joanna Morgan’s team. Lynne Lyon’s team was third with my colleagues from Tattersalls Ireland coming in a close fourth.

The raffle was a huge success with Slippers Madden opting for a stay in Dunboyne Castle instead of a Hair and Beauty Salon voucher and kindly offered it to Quiz Master Matt Chapman! Other winners on the night included Kristina Austin, JP King, Joey Cullen, Emma Cully, Damien McGillick and many more.

A massive amount of money has been raised and I really want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported me on this journey of a lifetime!

The rest of the weekend is a bit of a haze after Friday night but I know all weekend I was so overwhelmed with the support I received from my friend, family, colleagues and the racing industry!

Friday night was a huge success but I am still trying to raise as much money as I can for Cancer Research UK. 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.

Until next week!

Niamh x