Friday 3 July 2015 15:01, UK
Former Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton finished eighth on Mighty Mambo at Newbury on her first taste of racecourse action.
The gold medal-winning 34-year-old 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 has undergone four months of intensive training under a team of experts recruited by Betfair and has been riding out five times a week for Oxfordshire-based trainer Lawney Hill.
She made her racecourse bow at the Berkshire circuit aboard Lawney's eight-year-old in the George Frewer Charity Race, travelling well towards the rear of the field through the early stages.
Still with just two behind her turning for home, Pendleton's mount made pleasing progress down long straight and was not beaten overly far, with his rider not looking out of place in the saddle.
The one-mile-five-furlong event was won by the Maisie Turner-ridden Oratorio's Joy.
Pendleton said: "I loved every minute of it, but it was over so quickly, I wish I could do it again.
"My only fear was not to get run away with at the start, and die a death in the home straight. I wanted to finish as part of the group and not look out of place.
"I tried to be patient, but I left myself with a bit too much to do and I should have gone for a gap a bit sooner. It just happened so quickly, and I was annoyed I was at the back when the flag went down, but you live and learn and that's part of the experience.
"My aim was to get through the race, not look out of place or fall off, and to get to the end in one piece.
"When training a horse you don't get to push them at home, so I don't know if I was doing it right. We'll have a look at the replays and look at my technique in training.
"One skill I need to work on is using the whip, as I've carried it but never used it and that's next on the list of things to do. One of the biggest things about riding a horse is you have to keep your cool to a whole new level, it's helped develop myself as an athlete as you have to build this phenomenal relationship with the horse.
"I've been missing a challenge. I wanted something to get out of bed for and something that training fulfilled, and this filled the gap.
"If I get to the start line at Cheltenham it will be a huge win for me, as I appreciate how tough jumps racing is. People underestimate how much work jockeys put in.
"I'd like to thank Lawney and Alan Hill, I appreciate how much time and effort they've put in. They've both given me such incredible support."
Looking forward, Pendleton will be having rides in point-to-points and added: "My amateur licence assessment is in August, which I've got booked. The idea of going point-to-pointing looks good fun and it's low key."
Pendleton said: "I loved every minute of it, but it was over so quickly, I wish I could do it again.
"My only fear was not to get run away with at the start, and die a death in the home straight. I wanted to finish as part of the group and not look out of place.
"I tried to be patient, but I left myself with a bit too much to do and I should have gone for a gap a bit sooner. It just happened so quickly, and I was annoyed I was at the back when the flag went down, but you live and learn and that's part of the experience.
"My aim was to get through the race, not look out of place or fall off, and to get to the end in one piece.
"When training a horse you don't get to push them at home, so I don't know if I was doing it right. We'll have a look at the replays and look at my technique in training.
"One skill I need to work on is using the whip, as I've carried it but never used it and that's next on the list of things to do. One of the biggest things about riding a horse is you have to keep your cool to a whole new level, it's helped develop myself as an athlete as you have to build this phenomenal relationship with the horse.
"I've been missing a challenge. I wanted something to get out of bed for and something that training fulfilled, and this filled the gap.
"If I get to the start line at Cheltenham it will be a huge win for me, as I appreciate how tough jumps racing is. People underestimate how much work jockeys put in.
"I'd like to thank Lawney and Alan Hill, I appreciate how much time and effort they've put in. They've both given me such incredible support."
Looking forward, Pendleton will be having rides in point-to-points and added: "My amateur licence assessment is in August, which I've got booked. The idea of going point-to-pointing looks good fun and it's low key."
