LOVE Island star Chris Hughes is ready for the biggest challenge of his life when he rides in the Best Western Hotels & Macmillan Ride of their Lives at York on Saturday.

The popular celebrity has a long-held love of horses and went to school with the Twiston-Davies brothers, Sam and Willy.

Having ridden at various levels from a young age, Hughes will be one of a dozen riders raising money for the cancer charity which has a strong link with York.

Hughes will ride Carnageo, who is trained in Malton by Richard Fahey.

Hughes has been putting in the hard yards at Jonjo O'Neill's Jackdaws Castle yard in Gloucester and has also ridden out at Fahey's yard.

"I'm delighted. It's been a hugely challenging, yet unbelievably exciting five months," said Hughes.

"I have been working extremely hard with Jonjo O'Neill and Dominic Elsworth to prepare for this and can't thank them enough. I've always wanted to be a jockey and they have helped make it a reality.

"The experience has been fantastic but there's still a way to go and I'm really looking forward to competing on Saturday and raising some money for Macmillan Cancer."

Each participant has pledged to raise £3,000 and last year's event topped £150,000.

A charity auction, available to view online - www.macmillanyorkraceday.co.uk - also helps raise funds.