This was expected to be a routine assignment on a horse, Supreme Danehill, who was not really entitled to win on his recent form and was therefore on offer at 10-1 with some bookmakers. For most of the race, his performance justified that lack of expectation and he was seventh of eight runners as the field plodded for a final time up the steep hill that punctuates each circuit here. Pendleton had let him tackle the hill in his own sweet time and got quite a response when asking for a move on the other side of it. Supreme Danehill picked up the pace as those in front tired and, by the turn out of the back straight, he was the only danger to the leader, Lively Baron, whose stamina was ebbing. A thrilling finish seemed in prospect, until it suddenly became apparent that Pendleton’s position in the saddle was insecure. She had lost her right stirrup, which Supreme Danehill’s trainer, Alan Hill, later said was the result of the horse clouting the third-last. About 50 yards after that fence came a 90-degree turn to the left. Pendleton struggled to remain aboard and might have managed it if no turning had been necessary. As it was, she slipped out the side door and briefly alarmed those watching by remaining where she had dropped for some seconds before rolling under the nearest rail. She was ok the other day on Pacha Du Polder leading from the front on a horse way better than anything else in the race but when she gets into any "unexpected" situation the cracks are well and truly there. She is too much of a novice to line up in the foxhunters. They should tell her to have another full year learning race riding. Get some experience under her belt and have a tilt at it next year when she will be in far less danger! Just my opinion.
Agreed Stick she should carry on for another year and then reassess. What she's achieved in such a short space of time is remarkable and massive credit to her. But this is a dangerous business and you'd have to be worried for her at Cheltenham.
Comply disagree, that's not the Corinthian spirit is it? Look at the chap who owned Hunt Ball and his career in the saddle. Look at Jane Mangan in 2013s race. If it was any other race at the festival I would agree but this is the Foxhunters and many who line up will have comparable skill to VP.
I respect your opinion Nass but in reality 90% of the jockeys who line up in the Foxhunters are professionals in all but name. Prepared to bet you now that there will not be another rider in the race with less than thirty rides under rules to their name!
Let's look at that... Using RP jock page and last 5 years stats. Look at the winner last season, his rules racing in the last five years 6 from 10. P Mason who rode that day was under 20 rides, and riding for P Mason. O'Sullivan the same. Lyttle too. Woodward under 30 that day too. Fuller was similar and even Joe Hill hasn't ridden 30 under rules. That is 8 from 24, are you going to suggest that Mendip Express is in need of a different jockey too? He looked really bad when he won on him last time out. I hate to say this, but I think a lot of this is down to sex. If it was Bradley Wiggins or Cav, I doubt anyone would be saying that they need the decision taking for them. Simple thing is VP is an intelligent athlete and if she doesn't think she is ready then she will call it off. I don't think in this case the trainer needs to make that call, it's an amateur race and they knew her experience when she got the ride.
If you think she will call it off Nass then you dont understand her psyche at all. She is not a quitter and she has a dangerously big ego. She isnt ready. She fell off on the flat yesterday for cring out loud.
So did Jane Mangan and James Best messed up on one the other month and STD as well. Are we dropping jocks because of this?
This isnt a horse that jinked Nass. She simply fell off rounding the home turn as she had lost a stirrup. That is INEXPERIENCE!
Also, big ego? Not sure I agree with that, everything I've heard from her and the team is that she has been quite the opposite. She states time and time again that she is taking the views of her team and if they don't think she is ready then she listens. Just because she is successful it doesn't mean she has a big ego. Just a driven and ambitious sportsman. No different to many others gearing up for their ride in the Foxhunters.
Which her trainer said was caused by hitting a fence. Jocks loose stirrups all the time and some fall off. It's a hard sport.
I would give her a chance...shes being over analysed...i bet there are a few others likely to line up in that race that have had similar experiences recently be it on the racecourse or elsewhere.... Putting my view in perspective im a punter and not familiar with the art of horsemanship or at least the finer points..
Fair point made regarding the experience of some of the amateur riders though I suspect they've rode in plenty of points. VP is new to the whole business of riding horses. I don't think she'd even sat on horse a year ago. I don't think it's down to ego either on her part. From what I've read about her and what I've heard her say in interviews she spent most of her cycling career wracked with self doubt and comes across as a bit bonkers. I bet her ol man is having a tough time right now! I wouldn't be surprised to hear that she's going to get a year's more experience in points before tackling the Foxhunters. I wish her all the best whatever is decided and I hope no harm comes to her.
I pretty much agree with all of that and hope that you are right. My concern is that she may be a little too driven and go for it regardless. As it is such a big story for non racing obsessives there will be a lot of commercial pressure on her to compete whether she is ready or not. Hopefully she'll make the right call and I wish her well - would love to have a tenth of her drive, determination and courage.
Riding horses can be dangerous, and at times, a sad business. 17 year old Olivia Inglis has just died in outback New South Wales. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-06/teenage-girl-dies-in-horse-event-in-hunter-valley/7224692
The difference is that the other jockeys in the foxhunters have grown up riding horses. They have lived and breathed it and so are experienced horse people albeit some are inexperienced race riders. Thats the big point that people are missing in this argument.
So why does lineage and breeding have to stop people? That's the exact reason that it's so important for her to ride. It's about attracting new blood to the sport and not the elitist rubbish we've seen so often.