(CNN) She is cycling royalty -- affectionately known as "Queen Victoria" to her adoring fans -- but her latest race was never going to be an easy ride.

Victoria Pendleton had done it all on the velodrome's banked boards, winning two Olympic gold medals and nine world titles before hanging up her cleats after the 2012 London Games.

On Thursday, the Briton's sporting career clicked back into gear again, not on the cycling track but on the turf at Newbury Racecourse as she made her first competitive outing as an amateur jockey in a charity race.

In the end, it was a creditable debut with Pendleton finishing eighth out of a field of 11 boasting several experienced riders, including New Zealand's veteran three-day eventer Mark Todd.

Her mount, Mighty Mambo, got off to a slow start in the one-mile, five-furlong race and remained towards the rear of the field before making up some places as the finishing line neared.

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