TRAINER Lawney Hill says Victoria Pendleton is making giant strides as a jockey every day.

The Olympic cycling champion had her third ride in public on Tuesday, finishing down the field aboard Hill’s Royal Etiquette at Beverley.

Pendleton, who lives in Moreton, near Thame, was not happy with her finishing position of 13th, having come second aboard the same horse at Ripon last month.

But Aston Rowant trainer Hill says the self-criticism is unfair.

“Victoria was disappointed afterwards and felt she had let people down,” Hill said.

“But that is absolutely not the case. Her standards and will to win are just so high.”

Hill added: “I said to her after she finished second at Ripon that next time she would probably ride a better race, but would finish further down the field.

“But it is all a big learning curve for her and it’s all about getting more and more experience – and she will have learnt so much at Beverley.”

Pendleton’s long-term aim is to compete in the Foxhunter Chase at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.

And the jockey, who celebrates her 35th birthday today, admits she cannot wait to compete over fences, even though the point-to-point season does not start until November.

“I can’t wait to go point-to-pointing,” she commented.

“If nothing else happens beyond this point, the fact that I’ve been able to school horses over hurdles and steeplechase fences, I feel blessed, because not many people get to do that in the world.”

Hill added: “She came in the next morning and rode two lots for us.

“We are very lucky to be working with a very talented athlete, whose drive is just incredible.

“We didn’t think she would be this far ahead at this stage, but she is making giant strides all of the time.”