Carberrys launch 'Jockey Olympics'

Ratoath jockeys Nina and Paul Carberry were joined by Navan's Hector O'hEochagain to launch the 'Jockey Olympics' on paddypower.com Cheltenham Trial day at Naas Racecourse on Sunday 26th February. The event will see top jockeys get competitive in various events to support the GOAL Horn of Africa Appeal. Hector O'hEochagain will be the commentator and master of ceremonies on Sunday. The competition will incorporate three events, an egg and spoon race, a three-legged race and the final event will be a relay race when they will be required to pass off the whip as their baton. GOAL will have a bucket collection on the day to raise funds for the Horn of Africa. Nina - who put her honeymoon on hold to get back to the track following her recent wedding to Ted Walsh Jnr, unveiled her ambitions to lead the newly established ladies team to victory. She said: "This is the first ladies team to be involved in the Jockey's Olympics and 2012 is an official Olympic year so we are out to win. Katie Walsh scored the winning goal last year so we'll be taking lessons from her in preparation for the big day." Last year, the prestigious honour went to Drumree man Barry Geraghty's team of Robert Power, John Cullen, Alan Crowe and Paddy Flood who gave their all and were crowned the 2011 Jockey Olympians; there was clear delight as the team did a lap of honour around the parade ring making sure the other team captains could see their delight! However with 2012 being an Olympic year, and the games being held on our doorstep across in the water in London, the stakes seem that little bit higher. The ladies clearly have their eye on the prize and they may well be the ones to watch with Katie Walsh scoring the winning goal in the football skills event in 2011. During the afternoon, captains Barry Geraghty, Paul Carberry, Davy Russell and Nina will all lead out their teams before the racegoers to take on the challenges in aid of the GOAL Horn of Africa Appeal in the parade ring in two sessions, after the second race and after the fourth race. The first race is off at 1.45pm. On the racing side, this card in 2009 produced four horses that went on to score at Grade 1 level, cementing the meetings reputations as a stepping stone to greatness. Golden Silver was a gallant fourth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham after winning the paddypower.com Chase last year.