Double Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton said she was thrilled, despite being denied a fairy-tale victory on her first ride as a fully-fledged amateur jockey at Ripon yesterday.

The 34-year-old, from Moreton, near Thame, came second in a photo finish when riding Royal Etiquette, trained by Lawney Hill at Aston Rowant, in the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Riders’ Handicap.

Having been awarded her ‘category A’ licence, Pendleton partnered the 14-1 shot, who came out of the stalls last, but swiftly made up ground to track the pace-setting Chocolate Diamond.

The pair rounded the home turn well clear, and when Chocolate Diamond began to falter, Pendleton pushed Royal Etiquette to the front.

They were eventually run out of it by 33-1 chance Jordaura, who won by a head.

Pendleton said: "I had to switch to plan B too quickly. I tried to keep a hold of him, because I was told that if he hit the front before the three-furlong marker he would hold his hands up as if he'd done enough.

"I was pushing with everything and ended up just shouting at him to keep him going.

"I was so proud of him. He will get some Polos tonight!

"It's given me confidence and I feel blessed to have been given this chance, I feel like a real jockey.

"I don't know when the next race will be, but riding on the Flat is allowing me to hone my skills.

"I am absolutely delighted to be placed and Ripon will always hold a special place in my heart."

Pendleton announced in March she was training to become a jockey, with the aim of competing in the Foxhunter Chase at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.

She said: "If you had told me six months ago, which was the first time I sat on a horse, that I would be here I wouldn't have believed it."

"There have been so many challenges along the way and it's amazing how much I have learned."