RISING riding star Alice Robinson, 13, is on the way to become a champion jockey after qualifying to ride on Zorro at London International Horse Show at Olympia this month.

A member of the Shetland Pony Grand National team for the past two seasons, the Haslemere teenager is also raising funds for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust.

As part of riding at Olympia, she is required to raise at least £1,000 for the charity but is hoping to hit a total of £3,000.

Former Grand National winner Bob Champion rode to victory in 1981, after battling with testicular cancer the year before.

Last year’s Shetland Pony Grand National raised £38,000 for the charity and the hope is to beat that amount in 2017.

In order to qualify to ride at Olympia, Alice had to win one of eight qualifying races. Her trusty black Shetland pony, Cranford Fantastic (aka Zorro), is owned by a friend.

Other team members include Rocco Dettorri, champion jockey Frankie Dettorri’s son, and the daughters of Leighton Aspell, double Grand National winner, and Jim Crowley, champion flat race jockey.

Her mother Lorraine said. “Alice started riding at the age of two on our Shetland pony, Ian, who we still have.

“She has continued to ride and is an active member of Petersfield Pony Club.

“Alice has represented them, having qualified with her pony Stripes, to go to the Pony Club National Championships 2017 in showjumping.

“She was selected for the Southern England team at the Pony Club Regional Tetrathlon Championships this year.

“She competes regularly in British showjumping and represents the Surrey Academy team.

“She also qualified for the British Showjumping National Championships 2017 with Stripes.

“As part of the Shetland Pony Grand National team, she has spent the last two years riding at numerous events across the country including Badminton Horse Trials, Royal Windsor Horse Show, South of England Show, The Game Fair, Gatcombe Horse Trials, and Pembrokeshire County Show.

“Alice wants to be the first woman to win the Grand National.”

•To help support Bob Champion’s charity go to: www.justgiving.com/fund raising and search of ‘lorraine robinson15’.