Victoria Pendleton second on competitive amateur jockey debut

Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton finished second on her competitive debut as a jockey in the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Riders' Handicap at Ripon.

Pendleton and her mount Royal Etiquette, a 14-1 chance, lost to 33-1 chance Jordaura by a head after leading for most of the final three furlongs.

The 34-year-old made her racecourse debut at a charity event at Newbury in July, but this is the first time she has ridden competitively.

"It's six months and six days since I ever got on a horse," Pendleton told reporters afterwards. "I feel blessed to have had the career I've had in cycling, without it I wouldn't be here, but man, I love riding horses. It's the biggest rush and so much fun, nothing really compares."

The former Olympian aims to ride in the Foxhunter Chase at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.