Switching Saddles: Victoria Pendleton set for racecourse debut at Newbury

Editor
01 July 2015

Pendleton aboard Mighty Mambo

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Britain's most successful female Olympian, who is being backed by Betfair to train as a jockey and ride at Cheltenham in 2016, will saddle Mighty Mambo at Newbury on Thursday...

"It's only been four months since I partnered with Betfair and started to learn to ride with a view to becoming an amateur jockey but I feel I am ready for this race. I've been training hard and working with the world-class team of experts provided by Betfair and I am excited at the prospect of riding in a race, (while feeling a bit nervous as well)."

Victoria Pendleton

Just four months since announcing her intention to become an amateur jockey with our support the time has come for Victoria Pendleton to take part in her debut race.

Newbury will be the arena for the Olympian's first public showing with 10 opponents lining up against her in the The George Frewer Charity Race, sponsored by the Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation.

The one mile five furlong race is part of the George Frewer Charity Race Evening, held this year in aid of Key4Life. Due off at 17:55, it is the first race on the card. Our traders make Victoria a 5/1 shot to finish in the top five.

Having passed the required assessment of her riding and fitness at The British Racing School in Newmarket, Victoria now has the opportunity to experience first-hand what competing in a race feels like, a major milestone in her challenge to successfully switch saddles and ride in the Foxhunters Chase at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.

Victoria, Britain's most successful female Olympian, said: "It's only been four months since I partnered with Betfair and started to learn to ride with a view to becoming an amateur jockey but I feel I am ready for this race. I've been training hard and working with the world-class team of experts provided by Betfair and I am excited at the prospect of riding in a race, (while feeling a bit nervous as well)."

Victoria's horse is called Mighty Mambo, an eight-year-old bay gelding trained by Lawney Hill.

"Victoria has been doing very well, riding out regularly, galloping and schooling the horses, doing everything," Hill said.

"We've been very happy with her progress to this date and she's putting everything into it. Obviously she's a true professional. After all the grind of the training you do to be an Olympic champion, I think she's finding this refreshingly different."

Andy Clifton, Head of Communications at Newbury Racecourse, added: "We are delighted that Victoria and her team have chosen Newbury and the Key4Life Charity race to take the latest significant step on the road to becoming a successful amateur jockey.

"I am sure that her racing debut will create plenty of interest and we look forward to seeing one of the country's most remarkable sportswomen in action here at Newbury."

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Keep up to date with the latest on Victoria's Switching Saddles challenge here

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