Wynnstay hunt joint master and huntsman Richard Tyacke, who lives in Malpas, will be taking on Grand National winner Ryan Mania at Aintree, on October 23 in a charity race in aid of The Countryside Alliance Foundation.

Ryan who won the 2013 Grand National aboard Auroras Encore, will return to the scene of his victory for the charity event, which will see eight other fundraisers – including Richard – attempt to better the 27-year-old.

Grand National winning Jockey Ryan Mania will be taking part in the event at Aintree Racecourse
Grand National winning Jockey Ryan Mania will be taking part in the event at Aintree Racecourse

Ryan last raced in November 2014 and is now huntsman and a joint-master of the Berwickshire hunt.

The charity race – where amateur riders race on horses loaned by top-trainers – is part of the Aintree Countryside Day, which is a great day out for all the family. It is also the course’s Old Roan Chase Meeting so there will be a full card of races after the charity event, which will be the first race at around noon.

Richard said: “I used to event when I was younger but have never raced before, so to be going up again a National winner at Aintree is quite something for my first race!”

It may be a charity race, but former jockey Ryan has not lost any of his competitiveness. He said: “As soon as I heard about the race I wanted to be part of it. It will be my first since I retired and I am really looking forward to taking part.

'I will be gutted if I don’t win!'

“I’ve stopped drinking and am going out running to get fit for the race and I will be gutted if I don’t win!”

Ryan does not have a ride lined up for the race yet, but is slightly concerned that he may be on a jumps horse for the flat race over 1 mile 5 furlongs.

Wynnstay hunt joint master and huntsman Richard Tyacke, who lives in Malpas, will be taking on Grand National winner Ryan Mania at Aintree
Wynnstay hunt joint master and huntsman Richard Tyacke, who lives in Malpas, will be taking on Grand National winner Ryan Mania at Aintree

“In the end it will be the best horse that wins, so it all depends what the other riders are on, but yeah, I’m taking this seriously!” he added.

Other attractions at the countryside day include trade stands, displays by falconers, the Quack Pack duck herding display team and gun dogs, animals from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust or you can try your hand at laser clays?

Organiser Paul Dunn said: “Aintree has tremendous facilities and this is bound to be a great day out for racing and countryside enthusiasts alike. We are very grateful to the riders who will try their hand at race riding on our charity race to raise money for these great charities.”

The riders will be collecting sponsorship money in aid of The Countryside Alliance Foundation (TCAF) charities – Casting for Recovery, Fishing 4 Schools and Falconry for Schools.

General entry tickets are £22.50 in advance or £25 on the day (children aged under 17 go free with a paying adult), and family tickets (two adults, two children 17 and under) are £38 in advance, saving £12 on raceday prices. Special Countryside Alliance lunch tickets – which include entry, race card, access to the Sunloch hospitality suite and a two-course lunch with champagne reception, as well as a charity auction – are now on sale for £60.