Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton finished well down the field in her second competitive start as an amateur rider at Beverley.
Despite being a total novice in the saddle, the dual gold medal-winning cyclist announced in March she was training to become a jockey with a long-term aim of competing in the Foxhunter Chase at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Pendleton made her racecourse debut in a charity event at Newbury in early July before almost making a fairytale first start as a fully-fledged amateur when beaten just a head aboard Royal Etiquette at Ripon last month.
The 34-year-old was reunited with the Lawney Hill-trained gelding on Tuesday and faced 15 opponents, including Ripon winner Jordaura.
Royal Etiquette did not get off to the best start but made up ground to hold a handy position out wide.
He remained towards the front but started to weaken rounding the home turn and eventually finished 13th.
“Royal Etiquette is not too fond of coming out of the stalls and if I had been a bit more experienced, my timing could have been better,” Pendleton said.
“I was still really happy with the race until we entered the home straight when I lost momentum – I lost our plan a bit.
“I gave it my best shot, but these things happen – it was a great learning curve
“I can’t wait to go point-to-pointing and what will be, will be.
“I can’t imagine a life without horses now.”
