Pendleton's target in the balance

A repeat of her mishap at Fakenham last month – Pendleton was unseated from her mount after being nudged by a rival horse – is likely to see her dream of riding in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase, the Gold Cup for amateur riders, put on hold.

Even though Pendleton has made significant progress since taking up riding a year ago – her first race was at Ripon last August – many believe she lacks the requisite experience over steeplechase fences.

Significantly Pacha Du Polder’s trainer Paul Nicholls suggested at the weekend that Pendleton’s participation at Cheltenham after just a handful of point-to-point rides and the aforementioned Fakenham race was no formality and that a final decision will only be made after today’s race.

The level of interest in 35-year-old Pendleton is such that the Cheltenham executive has cancelled today’s media day to promote the Festival because so many racing correspondents and broadcasters will be at Wincanton watching the former cyclist.

Pendleton will compete against horses of the calibre of Big Fella Thanks, who was fourth in the 2010 Grand National before switching to the North Yorkshire stables of Ferdy Murphy.

While Pendleton admits her dream is not certain to be realised, she has acknowledged the backing she has received from the likes of Nicholls, riding guru Yogi Breisner and trainer Lawney Hill where she has been riding out.

“There have been a few knocks and setbacks along the way and of course there was the fall at Fakenham,” she said.

“But being totally honest and realistic, I would be surprised if such setbacks didn’t come with a challenge of this magnitude, and in the sport of horse racing.

“I love learning and improving, which is something I really missed when I finished cycling and that’s exactly why I’ve been bitten by the horse racing bug.

“The whole experience has been an incredible new chapter in my life and it’s definitely a story I will continue writing well beyond the outcome of this challenge, whether I make it to Cheltenham or not.”

Despite backing Pendleton’s Corinthianism, Nicholls – the champion trainer – is renowned for his ruthlessness and it would be out of character for him to allow sentiment to rule if he feels the rider cannot do justice to Pacha Du Polder.

Even though he has trained some of jump racing’s all-time greats, Nicholls heads to Cheltenham this year without a stand-out horse and facing the ignominy of bookmakers taking bets on whether or not he will saddle a winner.

Top trainer Gordon Elliott says he will not be shocked if Bryan Cooper chooses not to ride ante-post favourite Don Cossack in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup in favour of one of the other Gigginstown House Stud-owned runners.

Cooper, a cocksure young rider now burdened by the weight of expectation, was not at his best on Don Cossack last year when only third in the Ryanair Chase and this was compounded by a poor tactical ride in Kempton’s King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Significantly Cooper won last season’s RSA Chase on Don Poli and was aboard the Willie Mullins-trained dour stayer for a post-racing schooling session at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The jockey subsequently said that he was beginning to understand the horse’s idiosyncrasies following wins at Aintree and Leopardstown last December, but stressed that he would not make his final decision known until the final declarations are made 48 hours before the Gold Cup.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t ride our horse. The Willie Mullins factor is a lot bigger than the Gordon Elliott factor,” said Elliott.

“No matter what anyone says, if Willie bounces out and has three winners on Tuesday, it has to be at the back of your mind.

“I think if the ground came up on the softer side, Bryan would definitely ride Don Poli.

“If he doesn’t ride Don Cossack, Davy Russell is there, Barry Geraghty is there and there’s Richard Johnson. All them lads don’t have rides in the Gold Cup.

“Davy sat on him the other day and I wouldn’t have any problem with him riding the horse.

“Bryan says he won’t decide until declaration time what he’s going to ride. I’m sure in the back of his head he knows what he’s going to ride, but he’s not telling any of us.”

Nick Scholfield hopes Old Guard can draw on his fine record around Cheltenham and give a good account in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

With Sam Twiston-Davies opting to ride The New One for his father, Nigel, Scholfield has picked up the spare mount aboard the Paul Nicholls-trained five-year-old.

Old Guard was no match for Faugheen at Kempton on Boxing Day, but he had previously recorded three consecutive wins at Cheltenham. Not seen out since December, he was given a racecourse gallop at Kempton in the hands of Scholfield.

“Old Guard’s Cheltenham form is up with the best, and that counts for a lot around there,” said the rider.

Rhys Morgan Murphy, who grew up in West Witton, partnered Carlota Roque to a victory at the top French track of Enghien yesterday. The rider’s father, Ferdy, who relocated to France nearly three years ago, is the multiple Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer.