Victoria Pendleton will ride at the Cheltenham Festival

PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

VICTORIA PENDLETON was on Monday confirmed to ride Pacha Du Polder in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The dual Olympic cycling champion was handed the challenge of riding in the race a year ago via a Betfair-backed project, and, following her first victory under rules at Wincanton last week, she will now ride at Cheltenham.

The news was broken at a press conference in London, and marks the culmination of a rollercoaster journey for Pendleton during her brief time in the saddle.

Along with the victory at Wincanton she has also experienced the lows of being a jockey, unseating in her first ride in a hunter chase at Fakenham, and more recently in a point-to-point last weekend.

‘Hugely exciting’

Pendleton said: “This is not a decision taken lightly. Jump racing is dangerous, but I feel I am capable of taking part.

“This is hugely exciting. There’s a phenomenal crowd at Cheltenham and I am so excited. Getting round would be incredible.”

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who trains Pacha Du Polder and who has been helping Pendleton in her retraining as a rider, said: “Wincanton was a big day and it went well. Victoria’s improvement month-to-month has been fantastic and she’s well ready for challenge.”

Walsh lends his support

Ruby Walsh, nine-time leading jockey at the festival and overwhelming favourite to make it ten this year, voiced his support for Pendleton on Monday.

In his regular blog for Paddy Power, Walsh said: “She clearly gets a real buzz out of race-riding and loves what she’s doing, so fair play to her.

“The Foxhunters Chase is a tough race to win,” Walsh added. “There’ll be a lot of runners but as a high-performance athlete she should be as fit – if not fitter – than a lot of the other amateur riders taking part.

“If I was to offer any advice it would just to go out there and enjoy it. It should be a thrilling experience.”

Pendleton specials

Following the news, Coral offer 16-1 she will triumph aboard Pacha Du Polder, while going 8-1 she will finish in the first three and 6-4 the pair complete the course.

fonte : RacingPost