Former racehorses doing battle at Aintree for RoR award

Five former racehorses who thrived after taking up hunting as a new discipline will be on show at Aintree on Sunday, for the Retraining of Racehorses Racing to Hunting Challenge Final.

As part of the track's countryside day, which features the 188Bet Grade 2 Old Roan Chase, the five horses will compete in a variety of challenges, including jumping and negotiating obstacles they might come across when out hunting.

In addition, the finalists will also be parading with a pack of hounds from the Holcombe Harriers, with the judging panel scrutinising their behaviour and performance.

Whittled down from a longlist of 30, the five contenders are of varying ages and enjoyed different degrees of success when racing.

The youngest of the five is 11-year-old Accordintolawrence, who won three times when trained by Charlie Longsdon, and was also leased to popular Sky football programme Soccer AM.

He is now with Hannah Lloyd, who said: "He's a dream to have in the yard and I'm very lucky to have been given him by my old boss. I've put many of my friends up on him for a day’s hunting as I know he's safe but fun. His love for the hounds and hunting is extraordinary."

At the other end of the experience scale is 20-year-old Sound Of Cheers, who was a seven-time winner under rules for Fred Kirby.

He now hunts with Isabel Barker, who said: "He's never strong but will always keep up and stay with hounds, taking hedges, timber, dykes and ditches in his stride."

The nap hand of ex-racehorses is completed by Brumous, Prince Car and Seaniethesmuggler.

The winner will receive £2,500, while the winner's hunt will also receive £1,000. The winning rider will then be invited to attend the annual RoR Awards in Newmarket on December 11.

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com