Victoria Pendleton Foxhunter Chase Odds – Horse Racing Betting March 18

Is Pendleton media interest proving a distraction?

Cheltenham Festival

Is the whole Victoria Pendleton situation deflecting us from what we should really be concentrating on at Cheltenham next week?

The dual Olympic cycling champion has confirmed she will ride Pacha Du Polder in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. She was given the challenge of riding in the race a year ago via the betfair-backed project ‘Switching Saddles’ and won her first race under Rules at Wincanton last week. Some say that the publicity she’s generated for jump racing has been good for the sport but opinions are divided.

But it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for Pendleton during her brief time in the equine version of the saddle. She was unseated in her first ride in a hunter chase at Fakenham and, more recently, in a point-to-point last weekend in between fences.

 

 
Many don’t think she has the experience to ride in something as prestigious as the St James’s Foxhunter Chase but trainers Lawney Hill and Paul Nicholls, who will saddle Pacha Du Polder, don’t think she will let anyone down. AP McCoy has also offered his support but another former NH champion jockey John Francome has described Pendleton as ‘an accident waiting to happen’ and bookmakers are also sceptical about her ability to handle the demands of what is normally one of the roughest races at the Cheltenham Festival.

BetVictor make Pendleton 1/3 not to complete the Foxhunter Chase and 5/1 for her mount to finish in the frame and William Hill offer 4/6 that Pendleton’s mount doesn’t finish in the top 10.

Thankfully, Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse has resisted calls to move the Foxhunter Chase to a more desirable spot on Friday’s card. The race, restricted to amateur riders and for chasers who have qualified via hunter chases and point-to-points, will follow Friday’s big race, the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is run over the same distance.

 

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St James’s Foxhunter Chase Current Best Odds

On The Fringe (11/4), Marito (7/1), Aupcharlie and Paint The Clouds (8/1), Mendip Express (10/1), It Came To Pass (14/1), Mr Mercurial (16/1), Pacha Du Polder (18/1), Dark Lover, Pearlysteps, Palypso De Creek, Impact Area, Carsonstown Boy and Twirling Magnet (25/1)

Several leading bookmakers are already offering non runner-no bet on the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.