I've had to dig deep to achieve Cheltenham target '“ Pendleton

When questioned about the flak she has received from racing luminaries like the legendary John Francome, who described the 35-year-old as “an accident waiting to happen”, Pendleton declared: “I feel capable of being part of that race.”

However, there are already fears that celebrations after the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup will be overshadowed by Pendleton’s appearance in St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase 40 minutes later.

Even though the race, staged over the Gold Cup course and distance, is restricted to amateur riders, she will be competing against some of the very best from both sides of the Irish Sea – her riding opponents will include Jamie Codd, Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh, who are steeped in the sport.

In contrast Pendleton has ridden just twice under National Hunt rules – she was unseated from Pacha Du Bolder at Fakenham after being bumped by a rival, coming to grief, before winning at Wincanton last week when the horse appeared extremely well-handicapped.

However, the former cyclist says it is “hugely exciting” that she will ride the horse for champion trainer Paul Nicholls and just completing the course would be the equivalent of winning a gold medal at the Olympics.

“We have always had the extremely ambitious target of riding competitively in the Foxhunter as our goal, so to be announcing that I have achieved this goal is a truly amazing feeling,” said Pendleton, whose first competitive race as a jockey came on the Flat at Ripon last August.

“This has been no walk in the park, it has been physically demanding. I’ve had to dig deep, but I never wanted to give up.

“This is hugely exciting. There’ll be a phenomenal crowd at Cheltenham and I am so excited. Getting round would be incredible. If I get round on the horse and complete the course I’ll feel like that’s a gold medal.”

Pendleton hopes to draw inspiration from the anticipated 70,000 crowd and her own experience as a high-profile sportswoman who is used to handling pressure and carrying the hopes of a nation at the Olympics.

“It’s going to be nerve-racking, of course, but I’ve dealt with a lot of pressure and expectation in my time,” she added.

“In fact, I quite enjoy it. I think it brings out the best in what I have to offer as an athlete.

It’s one part of the challenge that I haven’t struggled with too much. I’ve enjoyed every second of the journey, and that’s the truth. I feel like I’ve already won, getting this far.”

As for Nicholls, it is no secret that he would have vetoed Pendleton’s participation if she could not have done justice to a horse owned by the Stewart family, who enjoyed so much success with the now retired Big Buck’s.

“The last couple of months she has been down schooling him with the likes of Sam (Twiston-Davies), Nick (Scholfield) and the other lads and she has coped with it well,” he said.

“At the beginning I was a little bit dubious about the whole thing, but to be fair to her she has improved so much that I think she is now ready for the challenge.”

Former Grand National-winning rider Jason Maguire says The Last Samuri should be “cherry ripe” for Aintree after winning Doncaster’s Grimthorpe Chase for trainer Kim Bailey and jockey David Bass.

“The Last Samuri is 100 per cent and will get geared up for the National now. That was a good performance,” said Maguire, racing manager to owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

“He’s a horse who is probably still a bit weak, but it was an ideal prep for him timing-wise, because he would not be the biggest, most robust horse.

“He has a slight frame. It was ideal because we have plenty of time to get him back and cherry ripe for the day.”

The high-profile meeting at Kelso, abandoned on Saturday due to waterlogging, has been rearranged for this Sunday in a welcome and innovative move, which now enables Crabbies Grand National winner Many Clouds to have a prep race for Aintree without having to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 10 days.

“We were so upset to lose it, it is one of our biggest days; it was a bit like having a horse go lame the day before the Festival, but we’re so pleased again – it has cheered everyone up massively,” said clerk of the course Anthea Morshead.

Middleham jockey John Kington enjoyed a welcome winner at Southwell when Foot The Bill prevailed for North Yorkshire trainer Patrick Holmes, a former assistant to Peter Beaumont who trained Jodami to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Classic-winning Flat jockey Joseph O’Brien will not ride this season, he confirmed last night as he spoke of his desire to concentrate on his fledgling career as a National Hunt trainer.

Yorkshire Racing Club’s Cheltenham preview takes place tonight at Pudsey Liberal Club, starting at 8pm.