VICTORIA Pendleton is excited by the prospect of her second ride in a point-to-point - possibly this weekend at Barbury racecourse - after thoroughly enjoying her debut at Black Forest Lodge in Devon on Sunday.

The double Olympic cycling champion almost completed the three-mile course on Minella Theatre, getting as far as the second-last obstacle before pulling up her tired mount.

Pendleton announced earlier this year she was targeting a ride in the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Having spent the summer working with trainer Lawney Hill and her husband Alan, Pendleton rode in three amateur Flat events - going close to winning at Ripon - but has now turned her attention to racing over obstacles.

Having ridden on the opening day of the point-to-point season, she is set to gain more experience with Hill saying afterwards he would be looking to give her another opportunity in the next couple of weeks.

As reported by the Swindon Adveriser last week, Pendleton has been pencilled in for the Point to Point Owners & Riders Association meeting at Barbury this Sunday (December 6).

"At the start there was a little bit of hanging around which doesn't work very well for him, so it was a bit nervous and it all happened so quickly," Pendleton told At The Races.

"It was brilliant, I loved it. The course is fantastic and every single jump is so pristine and the ground is great, so it couldn't have been a better opportunity first time out.

"It was difficult. People asked me how I was feeling about it and I said I didn't know what to expect. It was a new experience for me.

"It went quite smoothly, there wasn't a massive field out there and Minella Theatre is an incredible school master.

"I was fortunate to be able to ride a horse like that and learn so much.

"It's so different to cycling. You know exactly what you have to offer and what you have to do. It's all planned and strategic, but when it's a partnership with you and a horse, you don't know what's going to happen.

"You can guess, but you have no idea really. You are working together so it's a big learning process.

"I enjoyed every second of that and I just can't wait to do it again.

"As soon as you're off, you can't think about anything else and you're approaching the fence. I had a clear view of what I was jumping and we came over the first and I thought brilliant, perfect - now we're on our way. It was really great.

"The horse is so incredible at what he does. Minella Theatre is such a wonderful and experienced horse and that is what I needed first time out.

"I know it's going to get a lot harder and a lot tougher with different horses, but he really helped me out today.

"I'm very pleased and very happy. I really love that horse. First time out I just wanted to get round safe and we nearly made it the whole way round."