Victoria Pendleton wins her first race as a jockey on Pacha Du Polder at Wincanton

  • Victoria Pendleton won the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase
  • Pendleton notched the win aboard Pacha Du Polder, the 5-4 favourite
  • The ex-Olympic cyclist secured her first win as a jockey at Wincanton
  • Two-time gold medallist survived a couple of sticky leaps to triumph

Victoria Pendleton took a massive jump towards her goal of riding at the Cheltenham Festival when securing her first win as an amateur jockey on Pacha Du Polder at Wincanton.

A final decision on whether the dual Olympic track cycling champion rides the same horse in the Foxhunter Chase on March 18 will be announced on Monday. But after her 29-length success on board her Paul Nicholls-trained mount it is virtually impossible to see Pendleton’s team of advisors delivering a negative verdict.

Nicholls, a key member of that team, stopped short of officially endorsing Pendleton’s bid but only just.

Victoria Pendleton notched her first win as a jockey aboard Pacha Du Polder at Wincanton on Wednesday

Victoria Pendleton notched her first win as a jockey aboard Pacha Du Polder at Wincanton on Wednesday

Pendleton  is presented with Dick Woodhouse Trophy after winning Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase

Pendleton is presented with Dick Woodhouse Trophy after winning Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase

He said: ‘She did the job right and has learned a lot. We are not going to make a quick decision but Cheltenham is a more realistic proposition.

‘No one could look at her today and say there is no way she should not line up. She has ridden the winner of a Hunter Chase at Wincanton and is more than qualified to ride (at Cheltenham) in my book.’

The mood was in stark contrast to a fortnight earlier when Pendleton rode in her first Hunter Chase at Fakenham as was unseated at the seventh fence.

Video footage confirmed she had been unbalanced when struck by the hoof of a rival but the incident heightened concerns about Pendleton, who sat on a horse for the first time just over a year ago, taking part at the biggest jumps meeting of the year.

She had to scope with the pressure of knowing she had to deliver along with a gusting wind which prompted four of the 17 fences to be omitted. But, compared to Fakenham, she looked more positive and assured.

Before dashing back to London to commentate of the World Track Cycling Championships, she said: ‘Around the final bend I could hear hooves but I thought they don’t sound that close and are getting further away.

‘I was also too scared to look round and then I heard the commentator say "eight lengths clear" and I thought it has actually happened but I wasn’t going to leave anything to chance.

‘When I started the challenge the whole remit was training to be an amateur jockey in the hope of qualifying for Cheltenham. It was never I was going to be there 100 per cent because it is such an enormous challenge. Nothing was certain. Today it seems a bit closer.

'It was fantastic. I really just wanted a good round. I wanted to get round on the horse and give him a ride he deserved because he's Pacha Du Polder and he is a lovely horse. 

'I feel very honoured and lucky to be allowed to ride such a wonderful animal. I was very frustrated (after Fakenham) but also I know that this sport is full of thrills and spills - that can happen, it's racing. 

Paul Nicholls and the two-time gold medallist beam with delight while posing with the Dick Woodhouse Trophy

Paul Nicholls and the two-time gold medallist beam with delight while posing with the Dick Woodhouse Trophy

The ex-Olympic cyclist is in buoyant mood after securing win in the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase

The ex-Olympic cyclist is in buoyant mood after securing win in the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase

The 35-year-old celebrates alongside trainer Paul Nicholls (right) after securing her first career victory

The 35-year-old celebrates alongside trainer Paul Nicholls (right) after securing her first career victory

'When I started this challenge, people said, "You know you're going to fall off, don't you?" and I said, "Yes, I know", but it's a very small price to pay for the joy you get in riding a thoroughbred racehorse.'

She continued: 'I didn't want to be caught out again at the start.

'In a couple of point-to-points recently I have done the same thing, I've been trying to be calm and relaxed and really missed the start and I didn't want to do it again. I tried to pop out quite handy and get amongst it.

'I love riding out. I feel joy driving to the yard in a morning and seeing all the horses faces. I love the sound of them munching haylage, I love everything about them.

Sharply away, Pendleton survived a couple of sticky leaps to triumph aboard the 5-4 favourite on Wednesday

Sharply away, Pendleton survived a couple of sticky leaps to triumph aboard the 5-4 favourite on Wednesday

Pendleton was positive from the off and got her mount to the front from the beginning in the race at Wincanton

Pendleton was positive from the off and got her mount to the front from the beginning in the race at Wincanton

'Being able to gallop a racehorse, the feeling you get, or school a racehorse over jumps, it's like you're flying.

'Nothing really compares to it. It's such a special and exclusive feeling and I feel very lucky to have been given my chance to find my way into this sport and it's one I'm not going to be leaving soon.

'Bikes are great, I've had a lovely career in cycling and I would never change a thing and without it I would never be here, but it's the partnership you have with a horse.

'It's learning about their personalities, the way they move, the way they feel - it's all so different with every horse you meet.

'I've ridden 65 different horses so far this year and every one of them is different, it amazes me. I feel honoured to be able to do this right now, I really do.'

Pendleton riding Pacha Du Polder clear the last to win the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase

Pendleton riding Pacha Du Polder clear the last to win the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase

The jockey's delight is for all to see after she secured her first career victory riding Pacha Du Polder

The jockey's delight is for all to see after she secured her first career victory riding Pacha Du Polder

Pendleton now faces a crucial few days with her support team, which includes Nicholls and jumping guru Yogi Breisner as well as Lawney and Alan Hill, from whose yard she has been riding out, set to discuss her ultimate aim of riding at the Cheltenham Festival.

The long-term ambition for Pendleton was to ride in the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at the main meeting later this month and her team will now assess the viability of her once again partnering Pacha Du Polder in the amateur equivalent of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

An announcement on her participation is expected on Monday.

Pendleton said: 'I will be doing some point to points (this weekend) and then I'll see what the experts around me decide and I'll go with their choice. I'll still be riding the rest of the season.'

Pendleton appeared in high spirits before securing glory in the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase

Pendleton appeared in high spirits before securing glory in the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase

The Bedfordshire-born jockey makes her way to the start of the race on Pacha Du Polder

The Bedfordshire-born jockey makes her way to the start of the race on Pacha Du Polder

Pendleton (centre) talks to trainer Nicholls (right) prior to securing her first career win as a jockey in Somerset

Pendleton (centre) talks to trainer Nicholls (right) prior to securing her first career win as a jockey in Somerset

The 35-year-old former cyclist appeared in high spirits as she walks on the course at Wincanton racecourse

The 35-year-old former cyclist appeared in high spirits as she walks on the course at Wincanton racecourse

VICTORIA PENDLETON IN THE SADDLE - THE STORY SO FAR 

2015

March 6: Pendleton announces her intention to take up Betfair's 'Switching Saddles' challenge, with the aim of riding in the Foxhunter Chase at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.

July 2: After four months intensive training with trainer Lawney Hill, eventing guru Yogi Breisner and former event rider Chris King, Pendleton makes her racecourse bow when finishing eighth on Mighty Mambo in the George Frewer Charity Race at Newbury.

August 26: Pendleton is granted an amateur riders' licence by the British Horseracing Authority.

August 31: Pendleton takes her first mount as a fully-fledged amateur rider, finishing second, beaten just a head, aboard Royal Etiquette at Ripon.

September 22: Pendleton once again teams up with Royal Etiquette at Beverley but the duo finish only 13th of the 16 runners.

October 1: According To Sarah and Sedgemoor Express nominated as Pendleton's intended mounts during the point-to-point season.

October 24: Pendleton escapes injury as she is unseated by Satanic Beat in a lady amateur riders' race at Newbury.

November 29: Pendleton makes her point-to-point debut at Black Forest Lodge in Devon, where she pulls up Minella Theatre two fences from home in a three-mile event.

December 6: Pendleton teams up with According To Sarah for her second point-to-point start at Barbury Castle but she fails to complete, pulling up the gelding two fences from home.

2016

January 17: Pendleton completes her first point-to-point race as Supreme Danehill finishes fourth in a confined race at Black Forest Lodge.

January 18: Pacha Du Polder is announced as Pendleton's likely mount for the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham, with owner Andy Stewart 'delighted' to have the Olympian on board.

January 24: Pendleton completes aboard both According To Sarah and Minella Theatre in two rides at the North Norfolk Harriers meeting in Higham.

January 31: Pendleton rides Pacha Du Polder for the first time in public at Milborne St Andrew point-to-point in Dorset, with the duo beaten into second in a photo-finish.

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.

February 10: Fakenham is confirmed as the intended venue of Pendleton's first hunter chase outing aboard Pacha Du Polder.

February 13: Pendleton finishes fourth aboard According To Sarah in a ladies' open event at Cottenham point-to-point in Cambridgeshire.

February 14: Pendleton emerges unscathed after being unseated by Working Title in a novice riders' contest at Barbury Castle.

February 18: Pacha Du Polder declared for the Betfair Switching Saddles 'Grassroots' Fox Hunters' Chase at Fakenham, with Pendleton due to face five rivals on her hunter chase debut.

February 19: Pendleton's first start over regulation fences ends in disappointment and anti-climax as she is unseated at the seventh fence.

February 21: Pendleton was swiftly back in the saddle at the Waveney Harriers point-to-point at Higham, making much of the early running before fading to be last of the six finishers.

February 27: Horseheath point-to-point in Cambridgeshire was the venue for what was described as a 'good day at the office' following a seventh-placed Pendleton finish on Supreme Danehill.

February 28: A trip to Larkhill sees Pendleton finish sixth of 15 on According To Sarah.

March 2: Pendleton looks the part on her second start under National Hunt Rules as Pacha Du Polder makes all the running to win as the 5-4 favourite in a race at Wincanton. 

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