Cabin crew member Olive Murphy hopes for flyer at Cheltenham

Aer Lingus transatlantic cabin crew member Olive Murphy will turn pilot at the upcoming Cheltenham race meeting.

Mounted on a half-tonne thoroughbred, the mother-of-two from Patrickswell, Co Limerick, will race round the famous Prestbury Park course in a challenge for the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Olive is one of 12 jockeys chosen from more than 100 applicants to ride in the race and trainer, JonJo O’Neill, is giving her a horse named Churchfield for the race.

Olive, who is based at Shannon and works on the the New York route said: “My dad [the late Donie O’Brien] used always keep a few horses at home in Clarina and I rode in point to points when I was younger.

“By coincidence our home at Clarina is called ‘Churchfield’. This horse finished second in the race last year, so I could be in with a chance.

“It was great to get selected to ride in the race and I ride out every morning at trainer Michael Hourigan’s yard which is just down the road. I will travel over a few days before the race to ride Churchfield out at JonJo’s yard at Jackdaws Castle which of course is owned by JP McManus.”

Olive said she is very happy to help the Injured Jockeys Fund. “I have been a friend of JT McNamara since we hunted on ponies as children. JT received terrible injuries in a fall at Cheltenham and I was over to see him at his home today and he wished me the best and gave me a few tips about riding the race,” she said.

Olive is married to Patrickswell publican John Murphy, who worked at Aidan O’Brien’s yard as an assistant trainer before taking over the family pub.

John, who also breeds horses said: “We were at Cheltenham last year and met one of the riders who took part in the charity race. I said to Olive she should have a go. There was a selection process and she was one of the 12 chosen.”

Olive has aleady raised over €12,000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund and is holding another fundraiser at the family pub, the Cu Chulainn in Patrickswell on February 27.

Anybody wishing to contribute to Olive’s fund-raising effort can contact: olivecheltenham2015@ gmail.com