Elisabeth Murdoch – what are the odds?

Less than three weeks to go until Elisabeth Murdoch will be under starter's orders on her ride, Al Amaan, in the Ladies' Charity Race at the Cheltenham festival. Murdoch's JustGiving page – she is raising money for Cancer Research UK – reads like a who's who of UK media, including donations from Peter Fincham, Gail Rebuck, Philip Gould, Emma Freud, Peter Bazalgette, Kris Thykier, Danny Cohen and Ben Silverman. "To my delight and utter horror – I have been given this amazing opportunity to ride at the festival, risk death, humiliate myself and all while raising money for Cancer Research UK," explains Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of the Shine Group. Along with a substantial sum, Bazalgette also donates the best bon mot. "This is a re-run of National Velvet, does Shine hold the rights?"