Victoria Pendleton to continue riding

Victoria Pendleton intends to carry on riding in point-to-point races after her exhilarating experience when fifth in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham.

The dual Olympic gold medal winning cyclist was back riding out at Alan and Lawney Hill’s Oxfordshire stables on Saturday morning following her memorable afternoon aboard the Paul Nicholls-trained Pacha Du Polder.

Pendleton said she would be back in the saddle at her local point-to-point racecourse in Buckinghamshire, next weekend.

“It has been a really special experience,” Pendleton said.

“I watched the Festival last year but at that point I didn’t even allow myself to think what might happen.

“To come back 12 months later and take part, I can’t explain how it feels.

“There are things I need to practise and work on that hopefully I can put to good effect in the future.

“I think you have to really want to do this in your heart. It’s a sport with many, many lows and just a few exceptional highs and you have to really love what you do.”

John Francome was one of those to criticise Pendleton’s ‘Switching Saddles’ project but said he has “never been more happy to be wrong”.

Former champion jockey Francome had said she was “an accident waiting to happen”, and needed “saving from herself”.

But after seeing her safely negotiate 22 fences in what is known as the amateur riders’ Gold Cup, Francome was quick to offer his congratulations to Pendleton.

“Well done to her, it was a great effort and I’ve never been more happy to be wrong,” he said.

“She did a great job and she had a fantastic horse to ride.”