CARTMEL Races will play its part for charity as some of the sport's top trainers head to South Cumbria this weekend.

Several of jump racing's biggest names, including Grand National-winning handler Oliver Sherwood and Champion Hurdle winner Alan King, will be heading to Cartmel’s final meeting of the season – even though they may not have any runners.

The two trainers are among an elite group from the world of National Hunt racing to have joined up with Richard Farquhar, the man who is ‘walking the courses’ to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Research and Racing Welfare.

The 52 year-old Farquhar is making his way round Britain, walking more than 3,000 miles to take in all 60 racecourses.

For his latest leg, the 65-mile trek across the Pennines from Catterick to Cartmel, he will be joined by some of the sport’s elite.

Sherwood, who won the Grand National in April with Many Clouds, has got out his walking boots and with wife Tanya has taken up the challenge, along with King, whose big race successes include winning the 2008 Champion Hurdle with Katchit.

Also in the party is Sherwood’s brother Simon and his wife Lucy. Simon was formerly a top National Hunt jockey, best known for partnering the legendary Desert Orchid to victory in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

So far, Farquhar’s marathon march has raised almost £137,000 to be split between the two charities.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst diseases as there are often no indications until the disease is so far advanced that it is too late. Farquhar decided to raise money for research after losing his father to the illness in 2012.

It has also claimed some well-known racing names, including Irish trainer Dessie Hughes, father of champion jockey Richard Hughes, and Lambourn trainer John Hills, who have both died from the illness within the last 12 months.

The group are due to arrive at Cartmel for the opening day of the August Bank Holiday fixture on Saturday and will finish this leg of the walk by completing a circuit of the track before racing begins.

Farquhar’s daughter Minty, who heads his back-up team, said: “It will be great to visit Cartmel, as we have heard so much about it and never been before.

“I know Oliver has been to every jumps course, except Cartmel, so he is looking forward to it”.

The group will be doing some fund-raising on course on the day. Anyone who wishes to donate can also visit their website www.walkingthecourses.com