Victoria Pendleton, Britain’s most successful female Olympian, was denied victory in the final strides on her debut as an amateur jockey, losing by just a head aboard her mount Royal Etiquette after leading for most of the final three furlongs.
Jordaura, a 33-1 chance, chased down Royal Etiquette under a well-judged ride by Tom Greenwood, but all the attention afterwards was focused on Pendleton, who had taken an important step towards her long-term target of a ride in the Foxhunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next March.
Pendleton rode in a charity event at Newbury in July, but this was her first ride since receiving an amateur jockey’s licence on Friday. Royal Etiquette, a 14-1 chance, was expected to provide her with a solid but unspectacular debut, but went close to victory after a split-second decision by Pendleton to dispute the lead from an early stage in the 11-furlong race.
“I was pushing with everything I had and lost my balance a bit on the undulations, which was frustrating, and I ended up just shouting at him to keep him going,” Pendleton said. Royal Etiquette and Chocolate Diamond moved at least 10 lengths clear of the remaining runners at one stage, and while Chocolate Diamond weakened quickly in the straight, Pendleton kept her mount up to his work in determined fashion to secure a place in the frame.
“It’s six months and six days since I ever got on a horse,” Pendleton said afterwards. “I feel blessed to have had the career I’ve had in cycling, without it I wouldn’t be here, but man, I love riding horses. It’s the biggest rush and so much fun, nothing really compares.”
