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Cheltenham Festival: Pendleton fifth as On The Fringe wins Foxhunter Chase

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Pacha Du Polder (Victoria Pendleton) finishes 5th

On The Fringe (left) power home with Pacha Du Polder (centre) fifth

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

 By Nick Pulford 4:19PM 18 MAR 2016 

Report: Cheltenham, Friday

St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase 3m2½f, 5yo+

VICTORIA PENDLETON was a remarkable fifth in her bold challenge of competing in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase as victory went to On The Fringe for the second year in a row under Nina Carberry, one of the stars of the amateur rider circuit.

Only a year after taking up riding, Pendleton took her place in the 24-runner field for the race known colloquially as the amateurs’ Gold Cup and, while never close enough to entertain genuine hopes of winning on Pacha Du Polder, the former Olympic gold-medal-winning track cyclist finished just out of the places with a measured and assured ride.

Carberry, unlike Pendleton, has been around horses all her life and her race-riding experience told as she got out of trouble with On The Fringe to launch a tremendous winning challenge up the run-in.

The Enda Bolger-trained On The Fringe, the 13-8 favourite, scored by a neck from Marito (14-1) with Paint The Clouds (9-2) a length further back in third.

Carberry said: “I’m so happy. He always finds for you and I was there a bit too soon but he managed to keep it. It’s unbelievable.

“He missed the third last and I thought my chance had gone. But in fairness he winged the last two fences and kept going. It’s a tremendous training achievement.”

There was a sting in the tail for Carberry, however, as she was given a seven-day ban and will miss Aintree.

Pacha Du Polder (Victoria Pendleton) after finishing 5th

Pacha Du Polder and Victoria Pendleton are the centre of attention

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

‘Overwhelmed’

Pendleton, who was welcomed into the winner’s enclosure usually reserved only for the first four finishers, was cheered all the way back after delivering the best possible answer to those who had argued against her participation.

“I’m overwhelmed by how lovely the crowd have been,” she said. “It’s unbelievable. I want to thank Andy Stewart, Paul Nicholls, Lawney and Alan Hill and Betfair. I’m so honoured to be given this opportunity.

“It’s right up there with anything I’ve done. It’s such a rush, such a thrill. I think it’s one of my greatest achievements. I feel lucky. To be accepted as part of this by the crowd and by the other jockeys today, I just want to say a big thank you. I feel an immense sense of achievement.”

‘Unbelievable achievement’

Carberry, who had shared the female changing room with Pendleton before the race, paid tribute to her inexperienced rival.

“It’s the first time I’ve met her today and she’s done really well,” said Carberry. “It’s an unbelievable achievement and luckily she got a good horse to look after her and help her out too. She loves it and she’s got the competitive edge.”

The future

Pendleton ruled out the prospect of riding Pacha Du Polder at Aintree next month but vowed to continue riding in point-to-points and potentially hunter chases as well.

Asked about her thoughts on some of the negativity to her riding, Pendleton said: “It’s been one of the hardest parts of the challenge dealing with the negative spin.

“I never came into this to upset anyone in the community. I came into the sport to bring a positive approach and hopefully bring a new audience, but there are always going to be people that are against it.”

She added: “I love riding out for Alan and Lawney Hill and I’m not going to stop. I’ve found something I’m really passionate about.”

 

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