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.
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.
