Pendleton only took up riding just over a year ago in an initiative sponsored by Betfair and she’s had only a handful of rides on the Flat and in point-to-points.
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Former champion jump jockey John Francome has said Pendleton “wants saving from herself” and is “an accident waiting to happen”.
Victoria Pendleton on Pacha Du Polder winning the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunter Chase at Wincanton Racecourse, Somerset.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing and maybe we should have bowled along at Fakenham, but I was just concious that if we get to Cheltenham, we couldn’t ride him like that”.
“I will definitely doing point-to-points before Monday”.
Hill will make be involved in the decision to involve Pendleton at Cheltenham, along with Pacha Du Polder’s trainer Paul Nicholls and jumping guru Yogi Breisner.
Victoria Pendleton finished sixth aboard According To Sarah on her latest point-to-point ride at Larkhill.
“I love riding out”. If someone would have told me this a year ago I wouldn’t have believed them. Just the joy of galloping racehorses has hit me hard and gone right in. Maybe I will ride in it another time, but it is by no means the end.
October 24: Pendleton escapes injury as she is unseated by Satanic Beat in a lady amateur riders’ race at Newbury. If she falls or is unseated then it is probably game over.
Delighted that Victoria Pendleton has won on Pacha Du Polder at Wincanton.
February 7: She fails to complete on Working Title at Wadebridge point-to-point, taking an early lead before losing a lot of ground when the horse virtually pulled himself up.
Pendleton is tremendous box office for racing.
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The dual Olympic cycling champion wiped tears from her cheeks as she saluted the crowd on her return to the winners’ enclosure after her 29-length victory in the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters’ Chase.
