Cheltenham Festival
Venue: Prestbury Park Date: 16-19 March
Coverage: Live text commentary and daily reports on BBC Sport website & mobiles. Live daily coverage on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (1300-1400) and 5 live (1400-1600) and television coverage on Channel 4 (1230-1615)  Henderson will be making her Cheltenham debut on Thursday |
The Cheltenham Festival is always a busy time of year at Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows yard in the racing heartland of Lambourn in Berkshire. The Festival's most successful current trainer enjoyed big-race success on Tuesday when Binocular won the Champion Hurdle in thrilling fashion, storming up the famous Cheltenham hill to the finish line. But, for Henderson's daughter Camilla, this year's Festival is proving to be particularly busy as she prepares to make her Prestbury Park race-riding debut on Thursday, which is also Ladies Day. The 22-year-old student is one of 12 riders selected from 136 applicants to take part in a special women-only Flat charity race to be run over one mile and five furlongs as the last race of the day. Each of the riders, who also include Paul Nicholls's partner Georgie Browne and businesswoman Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of media mogul Rupert, has had to raise at least £5,000 for Cancer Research UK, which is the official Ladies Day charity for 2010.  | I definitely have more respect for jockeys now because it is not as easy as it looks |
Camilla, who first sat on a horse when she was two, has plenty of riding experience in eventing and point-to-point and is a regular Festival visitor. She will be following in a strong family tradition when she gets to the starting line. "I've ridden in a few other charity races at Newbury and I said that the last one there would be my last one, because it is difficult to raise the money," she told BBC Sport. "But when I heard about the chance to race at the Festival, it was too good to miss. "It's an amazing opportunity and the Cheltenham course is so special for the family. My mum Diana was the first female to ride under Rules there and her father John Thorne rode there as well, as did my dad before he went into training, and his father has a Festival race named after him so I am very proud. "I've worked hard and I've raised over £12,000, thanks to the generosity of a lot of Dad's owners and my friends, and it all adds up." Camilla is currently in her final year of a psychology degree at Bristol University and has been trying to juggle writing her final dissertation alongside training for the event with former jockey Stan Mellor. "I've been trying to do as much fitness work as I can daily at the gym, and also working with Stan on my technique and whip action on a mechanical horse to try to make me look as stylish as I can," she added.  Nicky Henderson is the Festival's most successful current trainer |
"Stan has been really good and I think I now look more like a jockey than an eventer because the riding styles are different. "I definitely have more respect for jockeys now because it is not as easy as it looks. "I've been travelling home at weekends and riding out as much as I can. I'm lucky because there is always a horse to ride out there and there is no substitute for actual riding and I can do that on the gallops." Camilla has been taking plenty of advice from all quarters, with her father Nicky choosing her horse for the race, and she is hoping stable jockey Barry Geraghty can give her a few pointers on the course. But, as well as her own race preparations, Camilla also plays a role in ensuring that the Henderson machine runs as smoothly as possible over the four days of the Festival. "Festival week is always busy and there is always plenty for myself and my sisters to do - keeping Dad calm is very important," Camilla admits. "I don't personally tack up the horses but I will be there if Dad needs me to carry a saddle or go and find someone or look after someone for a while. There is a lot of running around to make sure all of the owners are kept happy. "I am also riding out each day and riding on Thursday also means I can't drink any alcohol until after that, so any celebrations early in the week have to be put on hold!" | You don't have time to think but the most important thing is to remember to breathe and try to conserve your energy |
Whatever the result of Thursday's race, the training has given Camilla fresh enthusiasm for the sport. "I will go back point-to-pointing but I would like to take out my Flat licence at some point, although at the moment, I am concentrating on my university studies," she said. "In the races I have done previously, everyone goes so fast, you don't have time to think but the most important thing is to remember to breathe and try to conserve your energy. "Nerves often get the better of me so I will have to forget about that and concentrate and embrace the experience. "Everyone keeps asking me how will I cope with the hill to the finish line and I'm getting a bit anxious about that. Although I've been to the course a lot over the years, I know it will be a lot different riding there. "Hopefully, when the nerves disappear and the adrenaline starts to flow, my thighs won't give way and I will make it to the finish line!"
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