Women to become jockeys for charity horse race

A total of 12 women will race at Goodwood Racecourse in Chichester on 31 July

A group of women are training to become jockeys for the day in order to race at the Glorious Goodwood festival.

On 31 July, 12 women will race at Goodwood Racecourse in Chichester, West Sussex, in the Markel Magnolia Cup, which is raising money for The King's Trust International's Project Lehar.

The women, who are novice riders, include an author, police officer, lawyer and fashion designer.

Among those training for the race, Kate Hutchins, a social media influencer from Brighton, said: "My work day-to-day can be glamorous, so to do something that's the complete other end of the spectrum is so cool."

The women, who are novice riders, include an author, police officer, lawyer and fashion designer

Currently, 15 riders are in the running to race at Qatar Goodwood Festival, with the final 12 to be confirmed after British Racing School standard riding and fitness assessments in May.

James Crespi, Goodwood Racecourse director, said: "Every year the inspirational women who take part in the Markel Magnolia Cup become part of our incredible story, and it's something we're immensely proud of."

Project Lehar offers vocational training, entrepreneurship and life skills courses for girls and young women from low-income backgrounds in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The Markel Magnolia Cup has raised more than £2.7m for charitable causes since its inception in 2011.

Ms Hutchins added: "This journey has really changed my life already. I have suffered with anxiety, and my whole adult life I have been trying to get to the bottom of it.

"Since I've been training to be a part of the Markel Magnolia Cup and riding almost every day, that's just disappeared. It's life-changing."

Among the other competitors is Lois Logan, an up-and-coming show jumper and daughter of TV host Gabby Logan and former rugby player Kenny Logan.