ANGELICA O’BRIEN, from Fossebridge in Gloucestershire, is one of 12 lucky riders selected to take part in the St Patrick’s Derby at the Cheltenham Festival this year.

‘Jelly’ O’Brien, wife of racehorse trainer Fergal, has the advantage of knowing her way around the course having ridden at the Prestbury Park track previously as an amateur jockey.

The Flat race, run over one mile and five furlongs, takes place on Thursday, March 15, the seventh race of the day at 5.15pm, and is in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Other riders chosen from almost 100 applications include London Olympic Games eventing hopeful Tina Cook and Joanne McCain, who has two special reasons for supporting the charity.

Last year, Joanne’s father Ginger McCain, the Grand National-winning Aintree legend, died from cancer. Also, in 2011, Joanne’s son Toby lost one of his best friends to cancer, aged just nine years old.

McCain said: “I am thrilled and excited to have been picked to ride at The Festival. After losing Dad to cancer last year I feel honoured to be raising money for Cancer Research UK.”

Joanne rides out at her brother Donald’s stables in Cheshire and Jelly will be getting in some similar practice at her husband’s stables in the Cotswolds.

Jelly successful trains a stable of point-to-pointers herself while assisting her husband in his new venture as a professional trainer.

Fergal spent almost two decades as assistant to Nigel Twiston-Davies, where he oversaw the training of two Grand National winners, Earth Summit and Bindaree, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander.

Jelly rode about 15 winners as an amateur, including the prestigious Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford racecourse.

Cheltenham Racecourse’s Managing Director, Edward Gillespie, said: “We have been delighted with the success of the charity race over the last two years which has raised an amazing amount of money for Cancer Research UK.

“The riders that take part have been seriously competitive and the race has proved a popular addition to what is already a spectacular day of high-class jump racing”.