Jockeys Revealed For Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race

A total of 20 jockeys have been confirmed for the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race at the Curragh on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Part of the Pat Smullen Race Day in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland, the race, supported by the Breeze-Up Consigners Association and Smullen's son Paddy, is just one of the events and activities that will raise funds for the leading cancer research trials organisation in Ireland. The riders, who have to raise a minimum of €3,000 for the charity, will ride over the world famous 12 furlongs Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby course and are all taking part in memory of a family member or friend who they lost to cancer or to support anyone currently living with cancer. The riders are as follows:

• Cara Archbold, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow: Cara lost both her grandfathers to cancer so is riding in the charity race in their memories. Cara has been riding horses since she was four but only started riding racehorses just over a year ago for Michael O'Callaghan.
• Richard Brede, Kilcullen, Co Kildare: Richard only started riding lessons in 2021. He graduated from the trainee jockey course at RACE in June 2023. He was on his work placement with Willie McCreery and is now based with Johnny Murtagh and hopes to take out his license in the near future.
• Triona Burbage, Portarlington, Co Laois: Triona is from the close-knit community of Portarlington where they have lost a lot of friends and neighbours to cancer. She has been involved in all equestrian disciplines from the age of four and has been riding out for Jarlath Fahey since 2012. She watched Pat Smullen's Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland in 2019 and was really inspired to ride at the Curragh for this great charity.
• Erin Campbell, Clady, Co Tyrone: Erin rode in pony racing and has always been involved in racing since her teenager years. She worked full-time in racing and now rides out every morning for John O'Donoghue before her day job. Erin has lost close family members to cancer but is dedicating her race to her uncle Eugene who passed away after a lengthy battle. Her uncle Eugene was a huge racing fan and encouraged Erin's love of horses from an early age.
• Aidan Coonan, Maynooth, Co Kildare: Aidan is riding in the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity race in memory of family members and friends he has lost to cancer. Aidan has ridden horses since he was a child and for the last five years, he has been riding racehorses during his holidays and weekends and is now based with Cathy O'Leary.
• Anna Cropper, Kildare Town, Co Kildare: Anna is originally from Scotland and has been involved in the racing industry since 1997 working as a groom and exercise rider and using her degree to work in animal DNA profiling and clinical diagnostics. Anna is delighted to have the support of John 'Shark' Hanlon who she is currently riding out for and has ridden in four charity races at Naas, the Curragh, Leopardstown and Punchestown. Anna is riding in the race in memory of her grandfather who died when she was a child and her friend Clare, who sadly passed away last year.
• Claire Farrell, Gowran, Co Kilkenny: Claire is participating in the charity race in memory of her grandparents and close family friends whose lives were cut short by cancer. Claire is a radiographer in University Hospital Waterford and sees firsthand the challenges oncology patients face. Claire has been around horses all her life, through the Kilkenny Hunt Pony Club, eventing and re-training racehorses. She has never ridden in a race before but has been riding out for Ray Cody in Owning in Kilkenny.
• Charles O'Neill, Clane, Co Kildare: Thirteen years ago, Charles lost his younger brother David and his dad Charlie to cancer. Despite riding in two Point-to-Points many years ago, Charles hadn't sat on racehorse in 35 years when he decided to take part the charity race. Charles has been riding out with trainers Martin Brassil, Shane Nolan, Ross O'Sullivan, Johnny Murtagh and Jessica Harrington since the start of the year in preparation for the race and has lost nearly 20kg in the process.
• Eva O'Neill, Naas, Co Kildare: Eva is riding in the charity race in memory of her aunt who she recently lost to cancer and for all those who might benefit from cancer trails in the future. Eva is going into 6th year this September and has been riding ponies and horses all her life through the Kildare Hunt Pony club and eventing with ponies and juniors. She started riding out for Patrick Prendergast on the Curragh during her transition year and has enjoyed learning and working with racehorses ever since then.
• Ellie Gartlan, Dromin, Co Louth: Ellie lost her Nana on her dad's side to cancer a couple of years ago and her Nana on her mum's side is currently fighting breast cancer. Ellie has been riding out since she was 15 and was based part-time and full-time with trainer John Larkin for six years and is currently working with Gavin Cromwell.
• Mark Harley, Letterkenny, Co Donegal: Mark's dad passed away from pancreatic cancer in June 2022 so is riding the race in his memory and raise money for Cancer Trials Ireland. Mark's background is in showjumping but his family always kept racehorses and when he was younger he rode out for his cousin.
• Shane Harris, Fethard, Co Tipperary: Shane is riding in this race as Cancer Trials Ireland is a charity he wants to support and help raise much needed funds as so many people have been impacted by cancer in some shape or form. He has been riding racehorses for the last eight years with his local pre-trainer PJ Colville. Shane works full-time, plays polocrosse at a top level and also re-trains ex racehorses for polocrosse.
• Jamie Heffernan, Cashel, Co Tipperary: Jamie is a Kilkenny man, living in Rosegreen in Tipperary. He has grown up around horses all his life and for 10 years worked as a work rider in Ballydoyle. He now farms full-time at home and rides out as often as he can with local trainers such as John Grogan. Unfortunately, cancer has affected both friends and family of Jamie's over the years. Jamie's dad Seamus rode alongside Pat for many years and in a way the charity race will be a little like history repeating itself with Jamie and Pat's Paddy riding in the race together.
• Andrew Kinirons, Newbridge, Co Kildare: Andrew had an amateur jockeys licence and rode in Point-to-Points and on the track in Ireland and the UK, eventually hanging up his boots in 2013. He has held a trainers licence for almost four years. Andrew never rode at the Curragh as a jockey, so he is looking forward to ticking the Curragh off his list in memory of his grandparents and friends he has lost to cancer.
• Aisling McGuinness, Rush, Co Dublin: Aisling lost two uncles to cancer, Laurence in 2021 and her uncle Johnny only this July. Aisling has been riding ponies and horses and showjumping all her life and rides out for her dad, trainer Ado McGuinness.
• Emily MacMahon, Kilmessan, Co Meath: Emily is riding the race in memory of her dad who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2010. Emily has spent most of her career working in the racing industry–either stud farms, racing yards and racecourses and been riding out for her neighbour Ger Lyons in preparation for the race.
• Steph Searle, Duninga, Goresbridge, Kilkenny: Steph has worked in racing since she was 14 and among her many jobs, she currently rides out for Willie Mullins, is travelling head girl for Tom Mullins and works at Tramore Racecourse. Unfortunately, Steph lost her mum to throat cancer in 2013 so is riding in the charity race in her memory. She has been lucky enough to have led-up Pat Smullen on plenty of winners over the years so is honoured to ride in a race in Pat's memory.
• Paddy Smullen, Rhode, Co Offaly: Paddy lost his dad to pancreatic cancer in 2020 and is keen to raise money to help prevent the suffering so many people have had to endure. It's very special for Paddy to ride in the charity race his dad started in 2019. He has ridden horses all his life, firstly on ponies and continues to take part in eventing. Paddy started riding racehorses in Conor Hoban's pre-training yard a few years ago and now is enjoying riding out in Gordon Elliott's and Dermot Weld's.
• Derek Stamp, Rosslare Strand, Co Wexford: Derek rode ponies from a young age and completed the trainee jockey course at RACE in 1996. He rode four winners on the track before hanging up his boots and has been working in Ballydoyle for the last 14 years, He is riding in the charity race for Cancer Trials Ireland after making a promise to Pat Smullen to raise funds for cancer research.
• Joan Widger, Clonmel, Co Tipperary: It is her first time to ride in a charity race and Joan is honoured to do so for such a great cause. Joan is dedicating her race to her dad who passed away from cancer in 2014 and her sister who had her own battle with cancer and rode in this race last year. She has been riding from an early age through pony club, eventing and show jumping. In preparation for the race, Joan is riding out for Miguel Gunn and John 'Shark' Hanlon.

Other events include the 100km Curragh to Curragh charity cycle in memory of Olive Lynch and sponsored by Paddy Power. Prior to racing, 20-time champion jockey AP McCoy will lead the unique cycle, which takes in Moyglare Stud, Naas and Punchestown racecourses and Gilltown Stud before cyclists return to the Curragh during racing. There is also the Pat Smullen Race Day Barbeque hosted in the Oaks Restaurant. Tickets are €50 and include admission and a delicious barbeque.

Admission tickets are €15 online or €20 on race day for everyone over the age of 18, with a contribution going towards Cancer Trials Ireland. To purchase tickets for the various events, please visit the Curragh's website.

Brian Kavanagh, Curragh Racecourse CEO, said, “We are delighted to work closely with Cancer Trials Ireland and overwhelmed with the response to the Pat Smullen race day which has raised substantial funds since it was launched in 2019. Everyone's generosity will make a significant impact to pancreatic cancer patients. I would encourage everyone to donate to the various initiatives taking place across the day including the charity cycle and the riders taking part in the Pat Smullen charity race.”

Brendan Holland of Grove Stud, representing the Breeze-Up Consigners Association (BUCA), said, “Unfortunately, in the last few years some of our members' relatives and friends have suffered from and passed away from cancer, so when the opportunity arose to be involved in the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland charity race, we thought it was a great opportunity to proactively support the important work of Cancer Trials Ireland and all the brave riders taking part in the race. It's going to be a great day and a special race for a cause that is close to so many of us.”