A PANTOMIME horse will be gracing the winners' enclosure at York Races on Saunday to drum up support for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The fine filly is two parts of an eight-strong team taking part in the eighth Marie Curie Dublin Dash on September 19. Teams from across the North of England will have only 24 hours to get to the Wanderers Football Club in Dublin, raising cash for the charity along the way.

But while other teams will be travelling to Dublin via Holyhead, the "Pantomime Horses" are heading to the Ayr Gold Cup, in Scotland, in a car donated by Malton BMW.

Once over the Irish Channel, their main sponsor, Scarvagh House Stud, Ireland, will be laying on a horse box to get them to Dublin.

Visitors to Sunday's Evening Press Race Day will be able to meet the team and some of the jockeys may also take a spin on the theatre thoroughbred.

If you would like to take part in the dash or sponsor a team, contact the Marie Curie York Office on 01904 621000.

Updated: 12:21 Saturday, September 06, 2003