Bryony Frost set for showjumping battle with AP McCoy at Olympia on Friday

Britain’s elite female jockeys have readied themselves for a very different equestrian contest when they take on an all-star team in a battle of the sexes at Olympia on Friday evening.

The Markel Champions Challenge, in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, has become a fixture of the Christmas horse show in West London and it has another twist this time around as it will be girls versus boys, with some illustrious names on each side.

The girls team, captained by Cheltenham Festival-winning Bridget Andrews, includes jockey-of-the-moment Bryony Frost and Grade One star Lizzie Kelly from the jumps world, plus former Flat champion apprentice Josephine Gordon and rising star Hollie Doyle.

It is fair to say they have a fight on their hands when being timed over the poles. Not only are their opponents captained by a certain AP McCoy, a winner last year, they are up against his title successor Richard Johnson and the Flat luminaries Ryan Moore and Jim Crowley. Harry Skelton, Andrews’ partner and son of showjumping legend Nick, is also in the line-up.

Gordon, whose mother ran a livery yard in Devon and grew up with horses, is undeterred.

“I think we’re quite confident,” she said. “I did all that when I was younger, although I’m going to be a bit rusty, and we had some lessons with Pippa Funnell (the Olympic three-day eventer whose husband William is a showjumper). Hollie and I have been doing a bit of practice too.

“It’s a great opportunity, and I remember going there a few times as an outing when I was a kid. It should be good fun.”