Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Auction The horse racing and sporting worlds have come together to help raise funds for two pancreatic cancers trials supported by Champion jockey Pat Smullen. The nine times Champion Jockey was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2018 and announced his retirement from race riding earlier this year. He had intended to return to the saddle for a charity race at the Curragh this weekend but was forced to withdraw last month due to a health setback. A fantastic array of sporting experiences and memorabelia have been donated to the online auction which can be viewed at Pat Smullen Auction items Everything from VIP trips to iconic race meetings worldwide to signed football shirts, visits to top training yards and even a year's free training fees with leading trainers are among the stunning items up for auction. All proceeds from the auction and a number of other fund raising events taking place across Longines Irish Champions Weekend will go towards two Cancer Trials Ireland pancreatic trials, one involving radiotherapy and the other trialing a new drug. The trials had been put on hold due to a lack of funding. The Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland is shaping up to be the highlight of Irish Champions Weekend with an all-star line up of former riders taking part. Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Charlie Swan, Johnny Murtagh, Richard Hughes, Paul Carberry, Joseph O’Brien, Kieren Fallon and Ted Durcan will all return to competitive action to support their former colleague. The race takes place at the Curragh on Sunday. A number of top professional riders competing across Irish Champions Weekend have also pledged to donate their earnings from the weekend to the Cancer Trials. You can make a donation directly to Cancer Trials Ireland using this link: Make a donation
