Former Olympic and European champion cyclist Victoria Pendleton has confirmed her intention to ride in the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next week. In a press conference where she was joined by her sponsor Betfair's Barry Orr and advisors Yogi Breisner, Paul Nicholls and Alan Hill, Pendelton said, “It is not a decision I have taken lightly, jumps racing is dangerous, but I feel I am capable of taking part.” The 35-year-old will partner the Paul Nicholls trained, Pacha Du Polder (Fr) (Mutathir) in the three and a quarter mile event for amateur riders on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Mar. 18. She steered the horse to victory last week at Wincanton but such are the ups and downs of jump racing that she found herself unseated on the flat from her next ride in a point to point. Pendleton has demonstrated the determination and will to succeed possessed by elite athletes throughout her race-riding journey and she added, “The whole journey has been a remarkable experience. It has been physically demanding and I've had to dig deep, but I never wanted to give up.”
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