Townendheads Irish bid for 23rd win

The annual challenge between Irish and Australian national hunt jockeys takes place at the end of the month and the lucky quartet representing the Tricolour were named in Galway yesterday.

The team is headed by former champion jockey Paul Townend, and the Cork native will be joined by Ben Dalton, Philip Enright and Declan Bates.

The Irish will be targeting a 23rd victory in the challenge, while reclaiming a title that was garnered by the Australians last year. At 25, Enright is the oldest representative of what has traditionally been a youthful team. The Kerryman, who rides predominantly for Robert Tyner and Henry deBromhead, has been in tremendous form recently.