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Isn’t there a minimum number of rides required before being allowed to ride in the Foxhunter? Or am I thinking about the Grand National (or Liverpool Foxhunters)?
I know the Grand National requires jockeys to have won at least 10 steeplechases under rules….
I watched the Morning Line yesterday, VP having a jumping lesson, she is simply too weak in the saddle, Steve Smith Eccles and John Francome are right. When the horse fell back to trot she could barely rise to the trot, this is very basic stuff, to fast-track a rider they have had to miss the entire riding process and get her stood up out of the saddle, because that what she needs to do. She has no strength in her seat, cannot save herself or help her horse, she is so far surviving (or not as it appears) on the theory of running her own race out the back of the field. She states she wants to get to Cheltenham and if she ‘gets’ round that will be like a gold medal, fact is: she is entering the Gold Cup for amateurs, this is not place to be just turning up with the hope of ‘survival’. I think so far the press have given her a soft reaction, for one minute I cannot imagine F1 watching some rookie crash twice and knowing they have to drive at drivings equivalent being so polite.
Isn’t there a minimum number of rides required before being allowed to ride in the Foxhunter? Or am I thinking about the Grand National (or Liverpool Foxhunters)?
To ride in the Aintree Fox Hunters a jockey needs a Category B licence which requires additional experience. For the Cheltenham Foxhunters and other Hunter Chases jockeys just need a Category A licence.
Thanks Nenni, that’s interesting. According to the BRS site:
“To be eligible for this training [Category B] the rider must have had at least 15 completed rides under the Rules of Racing, the majority of which must be over obstacles or at least 20 completed rides in Point to Points and/or under the Rules of Racing. Generally, applications for Category B Permits are made by those who have already held a Category A Permit.”
Whereas a A permit only needs an assessment of their schooling ability.
Interesting that a much lower standard is permitted for the Cheltenham Foxhunter, I know Aintree is supposed to be “special” and all that, but it must be arguable that riding round Cheltenham in a full field the race after the Gold Cup is just as a serious a test of riding ability.
Two ‘stories’ today suggest to me that the decision has already been made and that VP will miss Cheltenham. Andy Stewart sings her praises on Sportinglife.com, and, on the Betfair blog, VP thanks everyone who’s helped in the project. I hope I’m reading wrongly between the lines, but suspect I am not.
Let see what happens tomorrow at Wincanton. Can she stay on for the whole race. If so can she ride a finish or will she just sit there.
They are the burning questions.I hope there isn’t pressure from anyone within the sport with an eye on its PR for her to ride at Cheltenham. All non-conflicted people seem to be unanimous that she is simply not ready for a test like that at this stage. Imagine the backlash if she hurt herself, or others.
Outstanding effort. To the naked eye, I thought at first that she was going too fast off the front, but actually she judged it really well, ramping it up steadily with Pacha Du Polder nowhere near off his feet at the end.
She still looks ‘iffy’ at some of the fences, especially if there is any hint of a mistake but I’m not sure that makes her any different to many other amateurs riding!
I still believe the hustle & bustle of the Foxhunters in front of a massive crowd will be an altogether tougher test, but I’m sure her team are fully aware of that.
Mike
Pacha is normally a safe ride, although can’t see it staying the trip. It’s just if something happens in front of her might cause a problem with the rider’s inexperience.
Is Ms Pendleton going to ride the horse at Aintree too?
That trip should suit, PDP second in it last year.Value Is EverythingPacha is normally a safe ride, although can’t see it staying the trip. It’s just if something happens in front of her might cause a problem with the rider’s inexperience.
Is Ms Pendleton going to ride the horse at Aintree too?
That trip should suit, PDP second in it last year.From what i understand you need a category B licence to ride over the national fences, though I may be wrong. She obviously has her Cat A, but I’m unaware of her obtaining a Cat B?
I watched the race late last night. I thought Victoria did well. It’s never easy to win from the front and she judged the pace really well.
However I was more impressed with her interview afterwards. This isn’t a gimmick or fad, she has a genuine passion for the sport.
I completely agree that an 18 runner Foxhunters run at a breakneck speed will be a totally different proposition but I for one really hope she goes for it. This could be such a positive story for the sport.
Apparently we’ll have an announcement on Monday.
This Monday announcement looks a proper PR set up now after the downbeat press releases on Monday (which led to my post higher up this page), to downplaying this after yesterday. Can’t blame Betfair for wanting to milk it, I suppose.
Personally, I haven’t seen anything that would suggest to me that she would look out of place in the race (seen a lot worse riders over the years competing in it to be fair) – the field size will be a new experience for her but the potential riding instructions she will be given will not mean that she will be burried away in the pack where her inexperience will be most telling.
I can very well see her either being up with the leaders or on the outside of the field getting a clear sight of her fences, the horse is also a very careful and clever jumper and Nicholls when interviewed said that he had advised her to take a leaf out of Ruby’s book that when there is no stride to sit still and let the horse sort himself out and it was evident that she took that advice onborad as a couple of times (one down the back and at the second last) she was very composed and not flailing away and making the horse unbalanced.
With his manner PDP is the perfect horse for her to ride at Cheltenham, if she had been due to ride something at little less careful then you may have a valid reason to give it a miss this year but assuming the horse is ok I would be surprised if they don’t let her take her chance.
The nice thing to hear from her interview is how much enjoyment she is getting from actually riding work at the stables – she mentioned that she has ridden 65 different horses since this whole adventure began and it seems like she has been bitten by the bug and fully intends to continue riding for the rest of the season and maybe beyond.
If you watched that Wincanton ace without any prior knowledge of the riders concerned, I would defy anyone to pick her out as never having actually sat on a horse unti a year ago.
That trip should suit, PDP second in it last year.
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