Victoria Pendleton’s participation in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival has been confirmed at a press conference in London.
The dual Olympic cycling gold medal winner will ride Pacha Du Polder in the race, which is run over the same course and distance as the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Pendleton was lured into the “Switching Saddles” experiment by Betfair, who backed the venture that has really caught the imagination of the public.
There can be no doubt that Pendleton’s love of race-riding is genuine, though, as anyone who heard her speak after a maiden success at Wincanton last week will testify.
Pendleton, 35, said it was “hugely exciting” to have been given clearance to ride the Paul Nicholls-trained chaser on Friday week.
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“We have always had the extremely ambitious target of riding competitively in the Foxhunter as our goal,” Pendleton said. “So to be announcing that I have achieved this goal is a truly amazing feeling.
“This has been no walk in the park, it has been physically demanding. I’ve had to dig deep, but I never wanted to give up.
“This is hugely exciting. There’ll be a phenomenal crowd at Cheltenham and I am so excited. Getting round would be incredible. If I get round on the horse and complete the course I’ll feel like that’s a gold medal.”
John Francome, the retired seven-time champion jumps jockey, described Pendleton as “an accident waiting to happen” on a racecourse after she was unseated at Fakenham last month.
Many other prominent figures in racing, including champion trainer Nicholls and Sir Anthony McCoy, believe that she deserves to take her place, though, and Pendleton remains unbowed. “It is not a decision I have taken lightly,” she said. “I feel capable of being part of that race.
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“The whole journey has been a remarkable experience and I have a lot of lasting memories from the last 12 months.
“I would also like to add that I’m delighted that the Stewart family has kindly made Pacha Du Polder available for Cheltenham.
“It’s great that an owner of Andy’s stature is putting his faith in me to ride one of his horses in such a significant race.”
Video courtesy of racinguk.com