SARAH Ennis is a late addition to the list of those competing in the Horseware Event Riders Challenge Race and will probably be the last to arrive at Dundalk Stadium next Wednesday evening.

“I’m asking for the earliest possible times, but I really do have to go to Wexford Equestrian that morning for the first of the Stepping Stones qualifiers,” explained the 2017 Irish Field senior event rider of the year. “I will have four or five horses competing down there and the problem is that most of them are five-year-olds.”

Although it’s been a while since Sarah used a racing saddle, she at one time rode out for trainer Claire O’Connell and also sat up on the yearlings and two-year-olds being broken by Terry White senior when he was based at Loughmore Stud.

As the record books will show, Sarah has evented a lot of thoroughbreds over the years such as Zio Mariano, Autumn Silence, The Underdog and, in more recent seasons, Alshmemi and Royal Turgeon.

Riding Horseware Stellor Rebound, Ennis finished best of the Irish in seventh in the European championships at Strzegom, Poland last August. The rider will aim that 14-year-old VDL Richocet gelding at Ballindenisk, Chatsworth and Luhmühlen as she bids to be selected for September’s World Equestrian Games in Tyron, North Carolina.

“I have a really nice bunch of young horses for this season, many of whom will be for sale when I get some mileage into them,” commented Ennis. “I’m particularly pleased to have some six-year-olds, which I was short on last year, and am looking forward to competing on the [2016] Go For Gold graduate Tullabeg Tango who is owned by Eilish Arkwright and Sarah Odlum.”

Sarah’s husband Niki Potterton is celebrating his birthday next Wednesday but he won’t be able to party the night away as we’re sure he will have to help Sarah weigh out and in with a hefty amount of lead.