CHELTENHAM Festival-winn-ing rider Lisa O’Neill believes it is Ireland’s turn to grab the glory in the Bicester Office Park Anglo-Irish Point-to-Point Challenge at Kingston Blount today (4pm).

O’Neill, who enjoyed her finest hour aboard Tiger Roll in the JT McNamara National Hunt Chase in March, will be joined by Shauna Larkin, Liz Lalor and Maxine O’Sullivan in Ireland’s ladies’ team.

And their mission is to prevent Great Britain making it five straight wins in the jockeys’ competition.

The 30-year-old, from Trim in Co Meath, said: “Ireland has so many accomplished and promising riders it is an honour to be selected.

“I’m sure we all have the same view that it is about time we turned the tables and we are more than capable of doing that.

“It will be a challenge as we are competing on their turf and they have a very successful team, but we are confident.”

O’Neill’s only previous appearance in the challenge came at Chaddesley Corbett two years ago.

And she added: “It is always an advantage to be at home and I feel the GB team always have massive amounts of support with them.

“It will be great to be a part of a great day’s racing, meeting new people, riding new horses and experiencing the point-to-pointing in England.”

Larkin’s call-up is something of a fairytale after her four wins aboard Rosc Catha, a horse owned and trained by her family, made her one of this season’s leading riders.

The 23-year-old, from Eyrecourt in Co Galway, said: “I am very excited to take part. I have never ridden outside of Ireland before, so this is all very new to me.”

Claire Hardwick will be making her third appearance in the challenge for Britain, and she is looking to help maintain her country’s 100 per cent record.

The 34-year-old, who is based at Adlestrop, near Moreton-in-Marsh, is joined in the British team by three-times champion Gina Andrews, Bryony Frost and newcomer Tabitha Worsley.

And Hardwick said: “We have won every year and there are some good girls in the team, so it should be good.”

Hardwick has plenty of experience of riding at Kingston Blount, and she is hoping that will work in her favour.

“It is a track where you can win and lose races by being tactical and how you ride it,” she added.

“I have had quite a few winners there. It is one of my favourite tracks.”

The course is located at Kingston Grove, Kingston Blount OX39 4SG, approximately eight miles NW of High Wycombe and well signposted off the B4009 towards Chinnor, leaving the M40 at J6.

Admission is £10 per person, with under 18s going free.

HOW THEY LINE-UP

Great Britain – men: Will Biddick, John Dawson, Alex Edwards, Evan David. Ladies: Gina Andrews, Bryony Frost, Claire Hardwick, Tabitha Worsley.

Ireland – men: Barry O’Neill, Jamie Codd, Derek O’Connor, Noel McParlan. Ladies: Shauna Larkin, Lisa O’Neill, Liz Lalor, Maxine O’Sullivan.