AN icon of the north’s National Hunt scene will be among the star guests at one of the biggest events in the region’s equestrian calendar.

The presence of Mister McGoldrick will be among the highlights of this year’s Middleham Stables Open Day on Good Friday, April 3.

The 17-year-old who retired three years ago will be the guest of honour at trainer Patrick Holmes’s Spigot Lodge yard in his role as an ambassador for the New Beginnings racing charity.

The aim of New Beginnings is to provide a safe and supportive environment for ex-racehorses to be rehabilitated and re-homed after they have retired.

Mister McGoldrick was a 15-time winner in a 91-race career and is best remembered for an emotional win at the age of 11 at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival.

An unconsidered 66-1 chance, he won the Racing Post Plate under Dominic Elsworth to give Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith her first festival winner.

A spokesman for the open day organisers said: “His combination of class and guts endeared him to so many and we are honoured to have him with us on Good Friday.”

He also paid tribute to New Beginnings, adding: “Their ultimate aim is to produce horses that can easily move into new disciplines and be suitably and successfully re-homed. They look after every horse in their care for the rest of their natural life.”

Racing journalists and broadcaster Alastair Down will formally open the event and the yards will be open from 9.30am to with 1pm or 2.30pm.

There will be free bus links between car parks and the outlying yards, including Ann and George Duffield’s Sun Hill Stables at Constable Burton which will be open from noon until 4pm.

Tickets are £10 per adult, including a souvenir brochure and a chance to win a prize in the programme draw. Admission for accompanied children is free.