TOP amateur riders Derek O’Connor and Jamie Codd have been named in the Ireland team for the Bicester Office Park Anglo-Irish Point-to-Point Challenge at Kingston Blount on Friday, May 26.

Eleven-time champion O’Connor is the sport’s most successfuljockey in Ireland with more than 1,100 winners.

He has also struck three times at the Cheltenham Festival, most recently on Minella Rocco in the 2016 National Hunt Chase.

Codd, the reigning champion, has clocked up more than 820 point-to-point victories in his homeland.

He is a seven-time winner at the Festival, including a double this year aboard Cause Of Causes, on whom he went on to finish second in the Grand National, and Fayonagh.

They join Barry O’Neill, this season’s leading rider in Ireland, and Noel McParlan in the men’s team, with the side selected based on the top four places in the championship.

Lisa O’Neill a winner at the Cheltenham Festival aboard Tiger Roll, features in Ireland’s ladies’ team.

The line-up is completed by Shauna Larkin, Liz Lalor and Maxine O’Sullivan.

Richard Pugh, of P2P.ie, said: “The Anglo-Irish Challenge has really become a very popular event on both sides of the Irish Sea in what has been a very short time since its inception.

“We have a very strong Irish team heading over to Kingston Blount this year.

“And it is great that it is another new venue for the event to visit.”

Meeting chairman Rodney Mann commented: “It is really good to see the top point-to-point amateurs in Ireland coming over and it will be a pleasure to welcome them to Kingston Blount.

“We expect to see some very competitive racing.”

The Great Britain team is due to be named early next month, with the top three men and ladies in the national standings earning selection plus one wildcard for each gender, with the aim of providing an opportunity for riders from all over the country.

After the Easter meetings, Will Biddick is clear at the top of the men’s table with 29 winners followed by Evan David (20), Alex Edwards (19), John Dawson (19), Jack Andrews (18) and Darren Edwards (16).

Gina Andrews is the leading lady on 16 winners, with Bryony Frost (11), Claire Hardwick (8), Leanda Tickle (7) and Tabitha Worsley (7) heading the chasing pack.

The meeting gets under way at 4pm.