Victoria Pendleton can’t wait for Cheltenham Festival date

Victoria Pendleton would rank completing the course at the Cheltenham Festival alongside her golden glory days in the Olympics.

Pendleton, 35, said it was “hugely exciting” to have been given clearance to ride the Paul Nicholls-trained Pacha Du Polder in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase on Friday week.

Yet despite her monumental cycling achievements, the dual Olympic champion would be just as proud to pass the finishing line in what is widely recognised as the Gold Cup for amateur jockeys.