A housewife is in training to ride the world-famous Aintree course on Grand National Day.

Janine Patchcott, 40, of Stanley, Country Durham, has made it through to the final 16 vying to ride in the John Smith's People's Race. 

The event gives ten members of the public the chance to ride in a flat race on Grand National Day and raise £100,000 for charity. 

After receiving more than 3,500 entries, race organisers whittled the field down to 30 novice riders. 

They attended gruelling assessments at the British Racing School, Newmarket and the Northern Racing College, Doncaster, to win a place in the starting line-up. 

The mother-of-two has now been selected for the next stage of the competition and will be assigned a professional trainer. 

Mrs Patchcott said: "I am so excited about how far I have got in this competition. 

"Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would have the chance to ride at Aintree. 

"Over the last few days, I have witnessed every possible emotion; excitement, anxiety, apprehension.

"To have an opportunity to be coached by such well-known trainers is a real privilege. 

"I am very much looking forward to the next eight weeks and hopefully riding in front of the crowd on the big day itself." 

Mrs Patchcott spends her spare time helping rehabilitate injured racehorses, and will donate any winnings to Cardiac Risk in the Young. 

A final assessment will be held at the end of next month, when the race line-up of ten jockeys will be announced, ahead of Grand National Day on Saturday, April 14.