Pendleton wins at Wincanton Victoria Pendleton made all the running on Pachu Du Polder to gain her first victory at Wincanton on Wednesday. The dual Olympic champion cyclist set out with the aim of riding in the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at this month's Cheltenham Festival when embarking on the 'Switching Saddles' challenge just over a year ago. After a handful of rides on the Flat and some regular mounts on the point-to-point circuit, Pendleton made her first start under Rules when teaming up with possible Cheltenham mount Pacha Du Polder at Fakenham just under two weeks ago. However, Pendleton was unseated at the seventh fence that day, prompting plenty of opinion from some quarters about her ability to tackle the amateurs' equivalent of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. But a bold front-running ride in the Betfair 'Switching Saddles' Hunter Chase paid handsome dividends as the 5/4 favourite coasted clear to win by 29 lengths. Pendleton was positive from off, having tried to come from behind at Fakenham, and got her mount to the front from the beginning. Her task was somewhat eased when Gauvain, who looked a likely rival, crashed out at the sixth, but Pendleton herself had to survive a slightly shaky jump at the eighth as well as a slow leap at the 10th. However, she managed to get Pacha Du Polder back on an even keel before kicking for home with two to jump. She negotiated both of those obstacles with the minimum of fuss, cruising home from Big Fella Thanks to a warm reception from the Wincanton crowd. Pendleton said: "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. "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. "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."
