Racing greats gather together for charity bike ride in memory of Pat Smullen

The greats of Irish racing will gather together for a charity cycle in September in memory of the legendary Pat Smullen, with stops at seven racecourses and two stud farms along the way.

A host of popular racing personalities will join the Coast to Curragh charity cycle on Saturday, September 25, among them Ruby Walsh, Johnny Murtagh, Paul Carberry, Joseph O'Brien, Fran Berry, Charlie Swan, Barry Geraghty, Paul Townend, Patrick Mullins, Kevin Blake and Gary O'Brien.

The unique event will start on the strand at Laytown and finish at the Curragh with a total of 155km covered. All money raised will be donated to Cancer Trials Ireland in memory of Smullen.

The cycle features a meet and greet with Harzand at Gilltown Stud. Harzand gave Pat Smullen his first triumph in the Epsom Derby in 2016 and the pair went on to secure the Irish Derby a few weeks later.

The Coast to Curragh charity cycle is the brainchild of Upping The Ante’s Gavin Lynch, who lost his mother Olive to pancreatic cancer.

Lynch said: "This is going to be a very special cycle and I’d love to see as many people taking part and supporting Cancer Trials Ireland. We have had brilliant support so far, including from Paddy Power and Servier Laboratories (Ireland) Ltd. The cycle is open to all levels of fitness and ability, so I’d encourage everyone to give it a go."

Smullen’s wife, Frances Crowley, added: "Pat was so focused and determined to raise as much awareness as possible about pancreatic cancer and raise money for Cancer Trials Ireland’s vital cancer research work, so I know he would be very proud and humbled that Gavin shares the same vision."

To take part in the cycle, just register on the event's page on the Cycling Ireland website. You can donate on the Coast to Curragh GoFundMe page, or you can email for a sponsorship card. Sponsorship cards are also available in all Paddy Power shops.

The Coast to Curragh charity cycle stages are as follows:

7.30am Laytown Races / Laytown Beach (155km approx. from here to the finish)
8.30am Bellewstown Racecourse
10am Navan Racecourse (110km to the finish)
11.30am Fairyhouse Racecourse (80km to the finish)
12.45pm Moyglare Stud (55km to the finish)
2pm Naas Racecourse (30km to the finish)
2.15pm Punchestown Racecourse (25km to the finish)

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