VICTORIA Pendleton admits she is struggling to contain her excitement ahead of her first public appearance in a horse racing saddle.

The 34-year-old double Olympic cycling champion, who lives in the village of Moreton, near Thame, is aiming to qualify to ride in the Foxhunter’s Chase at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.

And after months of intensive training, mainly at Lawney and Alan Hill’s Aston Rowant stables, Pendleton will take another step towards her target when she competes in the George Frewer Charity Race at Newbury later today aboard Mighty Mambo (5.55).

She was at the British Racing School in Newmarket last week, where she passed novice assessments which cleared her to ride at the Berkshire track.

And now it’s all systems go.

“I can’t wait,” she said. “I am really excited about the whole thing.

“It’s obviously a big step, but we have a plan carefully mapped out.

“It was about ten weeks ago that we were looking for a race to start the competitive side of the project, and this fitted nicely.”

Pendleton, who has lived in the county for around two years, has made giant strides since first announcing her ambitious project in March under the expert tuition of Yogi Breisner.

But she admits the help of all the Hills has played a big role in her progress.

“I really can’t thank Lawney and Alan enough,” she said.

“And (their children) Joe and Gaby too, they have all been incredibly supportive.

“I feel very comfortable in their stables and that’s important because I have spent so much time there.

Oxford Mail:

  •  Victoria Pendleton (right) clears an obstacle at Lawney Hill’s Oxfordshire yard 

“On average it’s been five days a week, but often six.

“Without their help and input I don’t think I would be at this stage so soon.”

Lawney Hill says Pendleton has made giant strides and is equally as excited as the rider about her debut.

“She really has been doing so well – it’s amazing how far she has come so quickly,” the trainer said.

“She has been so committed and we are all hoping everything goes well at Newbury because she deserves it to.”

Pendleton thought the idea was ‘absolutely crazy’ when initially reading the proposal from betting firm Betfair.

But the more she thought about it, the more determined she was to make it happen.

“I just love the idea of going really, really fast,” she said.

“I know it wasn’t going to be easy, and the fact it will be over the jumps at Cheltenham – I love the jumping aspect of it so much – makes it all the more exciting.”

Inevitably there will be falls, and it is with a bit of relief that Pendleton admitted she has already hit the deck.

“My dad always said to me when I started riding a bike that if you’re not prepared to fall off, then don’t do it,” she said.

“And it’s exactly the same with horse riding.

“I had one very bad day when I was pulled off my feet by one horse when I wasn’t even on it.

“And then another did a spin with me on board when I had only just started using a racing saddle – and there’s not a lot to racing saddles – so I went out the side door.

“When you fall off you have to buy cakes for the whole yard, so I did that and think everyone enjoyed it.”

Pendleton is not expecting to taste victory tonight, but is hopeful of coming through her test with flying colours.

“I want to experience everything – putting on the silks, cantering down, getting off to a good start, basically trying not to look out of place.”