When I last wrote my diary, I was sitting at my accommodation in Cheltenham getting ready for the week ahead, and what an amazing week it was.

Rise and shine bright and early Tuesday morning. Gordon Elliott had kindly let me be part of his team for the week of the Cheltenham Festival. I was getting the opportunity to ride some of the horses out in the morning before racing.

As I entered Prestbury Park at 7.45am, I was blown away by the buzz around the stable year. The media were hovering around outside attempting to catch a last minute interview with trainers about their hopefuls for the week.

We headed to the gallops, videoed by Racing UK and Sky Sports as we sauntered down. I was joined by Davy Russell and Bobby McNally. Both have been giving me great advice during my preparation for the race. Again when we reached the gallops there was a great media presence.

I was also delighted to see Michael and Josephine O’Hagan with Daithi Harvey checking out the Irish raiders for the week. Back to the stables after exercise and put our horses away. Annie (Gordon’s fiancée) offered to cook breakfast but I don’t think she had expected the word to spread and had quiet a few mouths to feed. It set us up for the day before we headed to the track.

I was totally in awe at the crowds that attended the races. The atmosphere was electric. That night we went for a bite to eat in the Indian with Gordon, Annie, Bobby, Karen, Mouse and myself. Off to bed early to get a good start on the morning!

Wednesday morning I again got to ride out on the track for Gordon. Today Gordon had four runners and these were his biggest hopefuls for the week. Gordon had yet to train a Cheltenham Festival winner so the pressure was really on. The media presence was not as large this morning although there were still a few hovering about.

Gordon’s first runner of the day was the Galway owned Chicago Grey ridden by Champion Point to Point rider, Derek O’Connor. Danielle, Marsha (my two friends who came over to support me) and I went to the grooms stand at the racetrack entrance to watch the race with owner John Earls and all the team from Galway. Big bold jumping, our hearts were in our mouths. It felt like the longest race in history. The magnificent grey came home in front. I think I got thrown up into the air at least a dozen times! The celebrations were going to be amazing.

Annie had asked me earlier to lead up Carlito Brigante in the Coral Cup as they also had Jessie’s Dream running in the race prior to him. I was delighted to oblige as this provided the perfect distraction for me not to get nervous about Thursday. Carlito behaved like a gentleman around the saddling enclosure and the parade ring. You never would have thought he was at the Olympics of his sport. I watched the race on the track with Gordon, Tom Howley, Mouse, Busty and bloodstock agent Tom Malone. Throughout the race, Carlito was always travelling well but I never though in my wildest dreams he would come home in front. I knew I would have to make my way to the top of the Cheltenham Hill to lead in my first Cheltenham winner – that was a struggle! The greetings along that long walk home were surreal. Carlito provided a double for jockey Davy Russell on the day and the public were well aware of this.

We arrived at the parade ring, the tri colour flying in the wind over Davy’s head to be greeted by Gigginstown owners, Michael and Eddie O’Leary. The experience was amazing, and the best was yet to come! That night I dropped the Chicago Grey supporter’s party into town for celebrations before heading to Birmingham to collect my boyfriend Peter Parkhill from the airport. He is also making the trip over to Cheltenham to support me in the Charity Race!

Thursday morning, the morning had finally arrived. Three months of preparation and it was finally here. I surprisingly slept well. I woke at 7am and began to get my gear together. It was a little all over the place as I had been using it riding out in the mornings. I also had to go on a wild goose chase looking for a missing shirt which had accidentally been removed from our accommodation!

At 10am we headed to the track. I had to attend a medical assessment to ensure I was fit to ride – all passed! At 11.15am all the riders participating in the Charity Race congregated for a course walk with Stan Mellor and Steve Smith-Eccles. It was nice to finally meet everyone in the flesh. The walk got off to a bit of a rocky start with no one knowing exactly where we started! We agreed to clarify this later and continued on our 1mile 5furlong trek around the track. As the hurdles were in place for that days racing, it was a bit daunting looking down the back straight of the course. But we were promised these would be removed. We arrived back at the weigh room where I was interviewed with Racing UK – my first TV interview!

I made my way back to the jeep where Peter kindly offered to carry my gear bag, my two stone saddle and my one stone seven pound led bag to the weigh room – what a gentleman. I think when we arrived at the weigh room he regretted his gentlemanly gesture! We had a couple of hours to idle about before we got ready for our race so I met up with Danielle and Marsha for lunch and then met a dear friend Dawn who had baked me the most wonderful “Good Luck” cake for the day. I’m sure the boys who have been on a diet of lettuce leaves will be delighted with this after the race!

3.50pm arrived and it was time to get suited and booted for the race. There were a lot of nerves in the weigh room but we were all in the same boat and all supported each other. Thank you to Davy Russell and Clare MacMahon who made sure I had prepared myself correctly for the race.

We were then asked to leave the weigh room where we had some group photos taken before meeting our owners and trainers. Both my trainer Anabel King and owner Aiden Murphy were both there to greet me and advise me on the best way of riding the race. “Drop him in fifth or sixth and go with the flow!” As we mounted and did a circuit or two around the parade ring the atmosphere was electric. People shouting our names and wishing us well in our race!

We headed down the shoot and people were still bursting with excitement calling our names and the names of our horses! As we circled at the start, I tried my best to get the best suitable position for my horse Dormouse. I dropped him in fifth or sixth and kept him on the inside. I was told to try take the shortest route around. Dormouse settled well and held his position till we reached the bottom of the hill. Still a long climb to go though. I gave Dormouse a little slap on the shoulder and saw the favourite, Lorna Fowler on Plato coming up my right hand side. I attempted to go with her as I knew this was the horse I should go with to be in with a chance. As that hill got steeper and steeper, Dormouse got more and more tired – and so did I!

Dormouse ran on super but Plato was not going to be beat on the day! I was over the moon with my horse – he was a real champ and minded me all the way around Cheltenham.

As we entered the parade ring after the race, I think we all felt like we were the winners. We all received a winner’s cheer on the way home and I will never in my life forget that feeling! Now I really know why Cheltenham is the place everyone wants to be!

The experience of riding at the Cheltenham Festival is one I will treasure forever and I would like to thank everyone for making this possible. In total, between the twelve riders we raised a whopping £200,000 and there is still more to come.

Three months of training and it was all over in three minute – but it was worth every second! What to do next – watch this space!!

If anyone would still like to make a donation to this wonderful charity – Cancer Research UK – you can do so by logging on to my Just Giving page, http://justgiving.com/Niamh-Flynn/. I am still hoping to raise more money so if you are a little flush after backing Irelands thirteen winners, make a little donation!

Thanks again for all your support and until the next venture,

Niamh x