Can Devon's Frost secure a second major Cheltenham win?

Devon-born jockey Bryony Frost made history at Cheltenham Festival when she became the first female jockey to win a Grade One race at the week-long event. Frost took the reins of Frodon for the Ryanair Chase in 2019, and produced an outstanding performance in the saddle to guide Paul Nicholls’ charge to the crown. Frost added the King George VI Chase title to her collection in 2020 with a fine outing at Kempton Park once more with Frodon to move into contention for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, Frodon was off the pace in Cheltenham’s signature event and finished in fifth place, 24 lengths behind the winner Minella Times.

Despite Frodon’s decline, Frost has continued to thrive with horses from Nicholls’ yard. Greaneteen could give hope in the Champion Chase, where he is backed in the horse racing tips at 25/1 to win the event. However, Frost will have to use all of her nous in the saddle to steer her charge to victory considering the amount of talent competing in the race. Shishkin and Energumene are expected to battle it out for the crown, while other talented competitors Chacun Pour Soi, Put The Kettle On and Nube Negra all have the ability to win the race on their day. Therefore, Frost and Greaneteen must be at the peak of their powers over the two miles of the race.

The French thoroughbred and Frost did appear to put down a marker for the rest of the field by winning the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park in December. The race is usually a solid indicator of a horse’s hopes for the Champion Chase, and Greaneteen did not disappoint with a brilliant display to beat out his nearest rival Hitman by five lengths, while also beating Chacun Pour Soi and Nube Negra. However, when faced with the challenge of Shishkin in the Desert Orchid Chase, Frost and her charge were unable to keep pace with Nicky Henderson’s horse, who romped home at Kempton Park by 10 lengths.

Greaneteen’s preparations for the Champion Chase took a massive blow in the Dublin Chase, finishing last in the event and 74 lengths behind Chacun Pour Soi as he crossed the line. The French thoroughbred did have a mild graze to his leg, but not even Frost could manage to pull out a performance from her charge. The Devon-born jockey faces arguably the biggest challenge of her career to guide the horse back to its best at Cheltenham, although the quality of the field will make redemption for both parties extremely difficult.

Frost will perhaps readily say that she did not have her best outing with Frodon in the Gold Cup in 2021, therefore, she has plenty to prove to notch a second Grade One win at the festival. Rachael Blackmore has been rightly taking all the plaudits for her breakthrough wins over the last year, but it could be time for Frost to remind everyone in the racing scene that she was the first Grade One female winner for a season with a ride to remember on Greaneteen in the Champion Chase.