An inspiring tale of dogged determination and a passion for horses hit the press this week, as the tale of Dublin-based solicitor Grainne Loughnane (27) emerged. The amateur jockey has been invited to partake in the auspicious St. Patrick’s Day Derby at the Cheltenham Festival – the UK’s premier annual racing event.

Working full-time in a solicitor’s office during the week and finding the time to make the grade as a potential champion jockey is no mean feat, but her hard work and dedication the sport she so clearly loves has certainly paid off. Grainne told Irish newspaper the Herald: “It will be competitive, because everybody dreams of having the winner at Cheltenham.”

She’ll be one of four Irish riders in the famous 1.5 mile race, but notably, the only amateur, and the only full-time legal practitioner!

An avid racing enthusiast since the tender age of twelve, Grainne will have the will of a nation behind her; let’s hope she can win the prize of almost $8000, which she has vowed to donate to a local Cancer Research charity if she wins.

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