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Cheltenham Festival: Frodon and Bryony Frost win Ryanair Chase


Frost had steered Frodon to three wins earlier

Jockey Bryony Frost made Cheltenham Festival history as she became the first woman to ride a top-level Grade One winner over jumps at the meeting when Frodon landed an emotional triumph in the Ryanair Chase.

Frost, 23, the daughter of Grand National-winning jockey Jimmy, punched the air with delight after victory on the 9-2 chance, trained by Paul Nicholls.

“He’s Pegasus,” said a tearful Frost after her bold-jumping mount finished ahead of Aso and Road To Respect.

As the jockey and her mount returned to a rapturous reception in the winner’s enclosure, 10-time champion trainer Nicholls said it was “one of the best days ever”.

Aso (33-1) kept on for second, with Road To Respect (9-2) third.

Frost follows in the path of the now-retired Katie Walsh who won a Grade One race at the Festival last year when Relegate came home first in the Champion Bumper, which is a flat race under National Hunt rules.

“We have climbed a mountain to get to this,” Frost told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It’s incredible and I’ll enjoy every minute of it.”

‘He deserves every high five, pat and carrot’ – Frost on her special partnership with Frodon

Frost and Frodon have built up a perfect partnership over the last two seasons and they were smoothly into their rhythm at the front from the start of the race over two miles and five furlongs.

The seven-year-old gelding had been considered for a tilt at the longer Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, but it was felt he would be better suited by this contest on rain-softened ground, and he relished the trip.

Sub Lieutenant and Road To Respect vied for the lead at one stage, but it was only 33-1 outsider Aso, ridden by Charlie Deutsch for trainer Venetia Williams, who could stay with the leader before having to settle for second.

Frost, who was landing her second Grade One win after victory in the 2017 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Black Corton, said: “He’s the most incredible battler!

“He travelled, my God he jumped, and the moment he got overtaken two out, most horses would have quit. He grabbed me by the hands and said don’t you dare give up. He’s unbelievable.

“He deserves every single high five, pat and carrot.”

Frost at forefront of racing’s new generation

Frost is from Buckfastleigh in south Devon

Frost is one of a new generation of female jockeys who are marking their mark in a sport where women often compete against men on equal terms.

On Tuesday, Rachael Blackmore – who is bidding to become the first female champion jockey in Ireland in a title race which ends in April – rode her first Festival winner.

It was Frost’s second victory at the showpiece meeting after winning the Foxhunter Chase on Pacha Du Polder in 2017.

She has bounced back after suffering serious injuries in a fall last year which ruled her out for three months.

In a pre-Festival column for BBC Sport, she described her partnership with Frodon, a Cheltenham specialist who has won five times at the Gloucestershire track.

“He’s numb in his braveness. He’s more competitive and braver than I am. He wants it. He knows his races and courses so well,” said Frost.

“If he was a kid who went to school, he would definitely come out with A stars.

“When he was younger, he was quite bullish and a know-it-all. This year, we have really clicked, we have just found this wave we are riding on together.

“I know for a fact he will offer me 100% of himself, and I will give it right back. ‘Frod’ is the man. It’s a privilege to be with him.”



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