Grand National winner Ryan Mania joins Aintree charity race

Ryan Mania (left, image by Kevin Owens), who won the 2013 Grand National aboard Auroras Encore, will return to the scene of his victory, Aintree, on 23 October to race in a charity event in aid of The Countryside Alliance Foundation. Sponsor him here

Eight other fundraisers will attempt to beat the 27-year-old, who last raced in November 2014 and is now huntsman and joint master of the Berwickshire hunt.

The charity race – where amateur riders race on horses loaned by top trainers – is part of the Aintree Countryside Day, which is a great day out for all the family. It is also the course's Old Roan Chase Meeting so there will be a full card of races after the charity event, which will be the first race at around noon.

It may be a charity race, but Ryan has not lost any of his competitiveness. He said: "As soon as I heard about the race I wanted to be part of it. It will be my first since I retired and I am really looking forward to taking part.

"I've stopped drinking and am going out running to get fit for the race and I will be gutted if I don't win!"

Ryan does not have a ride lined up for the race yet, but is slightly concerned that he may be on a jumps horse for the flat race over 1 mile 5 furlongs.

"In the end it will be the best horse that wins, so it all depends what the other riders are on, but yeah, I'm taking this seriously!" he added.

The riders attempting to beat Ryan are:

Charles Clark: A joint master and huntsman of the Holderness hunt in Yorkshire, this will be his first charity race, but Charles has some racing experience. His mother trains point-to-pointers and he rides out on the gallops each day – work permitting. He last raced five years ago, and has ridden round Wetherby a few times in hunter chases.

David Redvers: Bloodstock agent David's clients include the Qatari Royal Family – so he should be able to find a good horse for the race. He is also a joint master of the Ledbury hunt and recently took part in the 1,000km Mongol Derby (pictured right).

Oliver Dale: Oliver is huntsman and a joint master of the Ludlow hunt. He last rode in a charity race around nine years ago and is looking forward to racing at Aintree. Sponsor Oliver here

Richard Tyacke: A joint master and huntsman of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn's hunt (the Wynnstay), Richard has not raced before. He hopes to borrow a horse from trainer Oliver Greenall in Malpas or Warren Greatrex in Lambourn. You can sponsor Richard at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-tyacke

Polly Portwin: Polly is hunting editor for Horse & Hound magazine and a former senior master of the Bicester with Whaddon Chase. She was fourth in our charity race at Aintree in 2011 and hopes to get her hand in again in the run up to this race by riding out for Alan and Lawney Hill in Oxfordshire. Sponsor Polly here

Molly Dingwall: Molly may have a home advantage in this race as she is Aintree's regional business development executive for the North West. She also won her most recent charity race – the Jockey Club Challenge at Warwick in May – aboard Dove Mountain, trained by Co Meath-based Gordon Elliot. She hopes she might be able to borrow another horse from Gordon for the Aintree race.

Tessa Dollar: Intermediate eventer and showjumper Tessa has never raced before but can't wait to ride at Aintree. She said: "It's just amazing - I feel very honoured and privileged to be racing at Aintree - especially against Ryan!" A lifelong supporter of the Beaufort, she now hunts with the Wynnstay and hopes to borrow a horse from Oliver Greenall. You can sponsor Tessa here

David O'Brien: David, 51, is the 2016 point-to-point season leading veteran and novice rider for the North West and hunts with the Cheshire. He has not taken part in a charity race before – having broken his collarbone just weeks before taking part in a race for the Foundation at Bangor a couple of years ago. He hopes to ride Executive Benefit, trained by JJ O'Shea in Tarporley, at Aintree. Sponsor David here

Other attractions at the countryside day include trade stands, displays by falconers, the Quack Pack duck herding display team and gun dogs, animals from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust or you can try your hand at laser clays.

Organiser Paul Dunn said: "Aintree has tremendous facilities and this is bound to be a great day out for racing and countryside enthusiasts alike. We are very grateful to the riders who will try their hand at race riding on our charity race to raise money for these great charities."

The riders will be collecting sponsorship money in aid of The Countryside Alliance Foundation (TCAF) charities – Casting for Recovery, Fishing 4 Schools and Falconry for Schools.

General entry tickets are £22.50 in advance or £25 on the day (children aged under 17 go free with a paying adult), and family tickets (two adults, two children 17 and under) are just £38 in advance, saving £12 on raceday prices. Special Countryside Alliance lunch tickets – which include entry, race card, access to the Sunloch hospitality suite and a two-course lunch with champagne reception, as well as a charity auction – are now on sale for £60.

• For general entry tickets, contact Aintree http://aintree.thejockeyclub.co.uk/events-tickets/whats-on and for lunch tickets, email [email protected] or call 0207 8409207.


• For more on TCAF and Fishing 4 Schools, Falconry for Schools and Casting for Recovery, go to http://www.countryside-alliance.org/campaigns/fishing/