Weighed out and ready for Mongol Derby

An endurance test that promises death by a thousand saddle sores awaits a team of riders from Qatar Racing who are about to take part in the Mongol Derby.

Racing manager David Redvers, northern Britain representative Kevin Darley and Ireland representative Peter Molony are taking on the world's longest and toughest horse race to raise money for the Injured Jockeys' Fund.

Starting on Thursday this week (August 4), 43 competitors will line up for a race that involves a ride of 1,000km could be a lot more if they mess up the map reading to be undertaken in up to 10 days. Competitors arrived in Ulan Bator at the weekend and Redvers passed the first big test by weighing in just under the permitted weight of 85kg, suitable reward for the grind of losing 2st (12.70kg) in recent weeks in order to take part.

In a post earlier today from Mongolia he wrote: ‚"Forecast for Thursday is 38 degrees and then when we go into the mountains and lots and lots of rain.

‚"I've always been a complete admin disaster and tonight trying to push everything I need in to a 5kg saddle bag has meant lots of my 'essentials' are being dumped. No room for the bivi bag or roll mat for starters. Sleeping on the hard floor all the way, eating boiled mutton and no change of clothes or wash until the end. Going to stink. Apparently you get woken by your own smell by day two. That and the pain.

‚"All said and done I'm really looking forward to getting this done. There is a really good crew and for all my dramatics the operation looks very smoothly run. Now we've just got to man up and get on with it. Can't wait . . .

‚"Tomorrow we head for the steppe. Tonight though we are all off to the only Indian restaurant in Ulan Bator for a slap up meal. That followed by a long coach ride in the morning. What could possibly go wrong . . . ?‚"

Support the cause and Qatar Racing's Mongol Derby riders by clicking on their 'Just Giving' page at the following link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/QatarRacing. You can do so at any time during the race.

Further updates on the team's progress will be posted as news unfurls.

Thank you for your support.

Photograph of a pony being vetted ahead of the race: The Adventurists/Richard Dunwoody