GLOUCESTERSHIRE-BASED event rider Abigail Dean has been lucky enough to secure a place in the Champions Willberry Charity Race at Cheltenham to compete alongside more established stars like Nick Skelton, Ben Hobday, Tina Cook and William or Alice Fox-Pitt.

Last weekend Skelton added the honour of finishing third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year vote behind winner Andy Murray to his showjumping gold medal in Rio.

Also selected from the public applications was leading racehorse owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, from Qatar.

More than 600 members of the public applied to ride in the race.

Dean, 27, who competed at the Dauntsey Horse Trials earlier this season on her horse The Finding Nemo, previously worked for the late racehorse trainer Sir Henry Cecil in Newmarket.

The race will be run at Cheltenham on Thursday, April 20, 2017 and is in aid of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

Talented horse rider, Hannah Francis, was diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer in 2015. She was just 17 years old. In the year and half that followed Hannah, always aided by her mascot toy pony, Willberry Wonder Pony, amazed the equestrian community and people all over the world with her drive and determination.

She continued to ride, even riding internationally under GB colours, and fulfilled many of her 'bucket list' wishes.

Even more remarkably, she turned her sights to what she could do to help people in her position in the future. In constant pain and undergoing relentless rounds of treatment she set up Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, which funds bone cancer research.

Each selected rider in her race has pledged to raise a minimum of £2,500 and it is hoped the day will make at least £100,000 to be split evenly between the two charities.

Bob Champion said: "Selection was so hard. Everyone who applied was worthy so it all came down to suitability and fundraising.

"We hope we have got a good mix of people and that everyone else still comes along on the day, to join us for lunch, or just to watch, and to be a part of this special occasion."

Ian Peters, trustee of Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony Charity said: "We never cease to be amazed at the generosity and spirit of our supporters and we want to thank everyone who applied to ride in this race. Bob and Hannah are both an inspiration to the equestrian community.

"Now we want everyone, riders and supporters alike, to come and support the brave riders and both charities on the day."

Ian Renton, from Cheltenham racecourse, added: "The number of applicants to ride in the race was more than any of us could have expected and we'd like to thank everyone for their interest in the event. "Selecting the final riders was incredibly hard but I believe we have a great line-up of people to take part and hopefully raise plenty of money for two such worthwhile charities."

Other who made it through the application process were: Madeleine Bunbury, Anne Dawson, Scott Lowther, Catherine Mills, Ben Moore, and Jasean Spraggett.

Visit www.championswillberry.org.uk for all details of how to get involved in sponsorship of the race and the jockeys riding, how to attend the race and lunch on the day and how to donate.