Victoria Pendleton (red cap) is tossed from Pacha Du Polder
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
OLYMPIC sprint cycle champion Victoria Pendleton’s bid to ride in the St James’s Place Foxhunter at the Cheltenham Festival next month suffered a major setback when she unseated on her first jumps ride under rules at Fakenham on Friday.
Pendleton, who captured gold medals at the Beijing and London Olympics in 2008 and 2012, has swapped two wheels for four legs, but her biggest assignment ended in disaster when she departed from the Paul Nicholls-trained Pacha Du Polder in Fakenham’s 3m hunter chase.
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“I’m okay, just really annoyed,” she said. “I didn’t have a chance to stay on. The horse in front jumped a bit squiffy and I went out the side door.”
Pendleton had finished second on Pacha Du Polder in a point-to-point recently and the pair were expected to take all the beating before a crack at Cheltenham in what some regard as the amateurs’ Gold Cup.
However, the 8-13 favourite, who was settled at the rear of the six-runner field by Pendleton, tossed the 35-year-old out of the saddle at the seventh fence just after the unseat of Carey Williamson on Baltic Blue.
Paddy Power eased Pacha Du Polder to 20-1 (from 14-1) for the Foxhunter, while offering 50-1 about the winner Vasco Du Mee doubling up next month.
Pendleton hit the deck, but was fine
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
“I’m very disappointed,” added Pendleton, whose switch is being supported by Betfair with assistance from Alan and Lawney Hill, nine-time champion trainer Nicholls and equine jumping expert Yogi Breisner.
“I was really looking forward to the race today and having another opportunity to ride such a fabulous horse. It’s one of those things; it’s racing, it’s what happens and things don’t always go to plan, but onwards and upwards.”
Asked if Cheltenham was still the aim, Pendleton replied: “I hope so. Hopefully I’ll have another chance to ride him and to get as many rides in as possible, then it’s up to the team of experts to decide whether I’m ready – I hope I am.
“I don’t feel this is a major setback. It’s one of those things; it’s annoying because you’re against the clock [to qualify for the Foxhunter], but I must be patient. I hadn’t even ridden a horse at this time last year.”
