Horsing around is turning serious for Janine Patchett. The mum-of-two hopes to clinch a place in the charity race of a lifetime at Aintree on Grand National day.
She's already seen off 3,500 other keen riders and now she is aiming for one of the 10 places in the race, which will see the winner scoop £55,000 for the charity of their choice.
Janine's driving force for winning the race is the memory of her nephew and sister who both tragically died in the last seven years.
In 1999 her nephew Paul Hindmarch, of Sunniside, Gateshead, died at only 14 when he had a sudden attack at a Newcastle United match.
Paul's mum, Janine's sister Michelle, 41, died four years later of cancer of the kidney.
Now Janine plans to play jockey for the day in a bid to raise cash for Cardiac Risk in the Young.
Janine, 40, of Tantobie, County Durham, said: "I'm so excited to be in with a chance of running the race, it's my dream. I've been riding since I was seven and absolutely love horses.
"It would mean so much to me to be able to raise this money in memory of my sister and nephew.
"CRY is a very worthwhile cause and it would be nice to e able to give such a lot of money to them."
Janine attended gruelling assessments at the British Racing School, Newmarket, and the Northern Racing College in Doncaster to win a place in the starting line-up.
The next stage of the competition will see Janine and her fellow competitors assigned a racehorse and a professional trainer who will put them through an intensive personal training regime to prepare for the big day.
A final assessment will be held at the end of March, when the final race line-up of 10 jockeys will be announced ahead of Grand National Day on April 14.
Each of the 10 jockeys will receive £5,000 for their chosen charity and the eventual winner will scoop £50,000.
Janine, who owns a pony named Bariebe and an ex-race horse called Howard's Lad, said:
"To have this opportunity is amazing but I must admit I am nervous. It looks like we'll be put through our paces but I'm, looking forward to it."
Janine's daughter Emma, 16, son Daniel, 11, and husband Brad, 44, are backing her all the way and hope to be watching Janine cross the famous finish line in first place.
Claire Kennedy, marketing manager for Grand National sponsor John Smith's said:
"We were overwhelmed by the response we had to the competition and would like to congratulate everyone who will be going forward to the training stage of the event. The Grand National is one of the greatest events in the British sporting calendar and we're delighted to be working with Aintree and some of the UK's most prestigious race trainers to help these individuals realise their lifetime dream of riding at Aintree on Grand National Day.
"We look forward to following the final competitors through the weeks leading up the John Smith's Grand National and wish everyone the best of luck."
