2020 Cheltenham Festival tips – Bryony Frost’s rides
Bryony Frost celebrates after guiding Frodon to Ryanair glory.
Jon Vine takes a look through Bryony Frost’s rides at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival and highlights her best chances when the meeting starts on Tuesday 10th March.
Bryony Frost made history on day three of the Cheltenham Festival 12 months ago. Frost rode her favourite mount, Frodon to a stunning victory in the Ryanair Chase, becoming the first female jockey to ride a Grade One winner on British soil.
Bryony has struggled with a few niggling injuries since then. Yet, the Ryanair heroine is likely to pick up some really good rides for her boss Paul Nicholls, and for Neil King, who Frost regularly rides for. Here’s a list of Bryony Frost’s rides at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival and her best chances of grabbing a third Festival winner.
Bryony Frost’s Rides at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival
FRODON
What better place to start than with Bryony Frost’s sturdiest steed. Since that spectacular Ryanair success, Frodon (6/1 Unibet) has endured a sticky patch of form. With Frost in the saddle, Nicholls’ charge was beaten 15-lengths by Forest Bihan in the Old Roan, before failing to see out three miles in the Betfair Trophy. A welcome return to winning form followed in the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton in January though, and Frodon looks set for a good defence of his Ryanair crown. Read my Ryanair preview here.
SOUTHFIELD STONE
Following defeats to the likes of Brewin’upastorm and Fanion D’Estruval, Southfield Stone broke his chasing duck under Frost with a simple 24-length success up at Musselburgh. That was the first time Paul Nicholls had stepped his imposing youngster up beyond two miles and Southfield Stone rose to the challenge in good style. A revised mark of 144 puts him perfectly in the picture for the Northern Trust Handicap and, with Nicholls also likely to throw Mont Des Avaloirs into the mix too, Frost could renew her partnership with this classy novice.
CANYON CITY
Having risen through the handicap steadily throughout last season, Canyon City claimed a couple of deserved victories at Fakenham and Haydock during the spring. Neil King’s seven-year-old has really struggled this term, but did manage to book his spot in the Pertemps Final with a sixth-place finish at Newbury on his reappearance and has the ability to outrun his astronomical odds. He won’t feature in many people’s Cheltenham Festival tips. but Canyon City remains a capable handicapper.
NORDANO
King’s juvenile impressed earlier in the season, claiming a couple of three-length wins before a decent third in a Listed race at Wetherby. Nordano was then heavily beaten by the top two in the Triumph betting, Allmankind and Goshen.. With Frost up at Haydock riding Yala Enki in the National Trial, Nordano bolted up on his handicap debut at Ascot. There’s still a chance Frost will ride this youngster into the Boodles Juvenile Handicap, but the Martin Pipe may now be the better option.
MAGIC SAINT
Paul Nicholls’ has several arrows to fire at the Grand Annual, with Greaneteen, Brelan D’As and even Capeland featuring in the betting. Magic Saint went to post as the favourite for last year’s renewal, but was well beaten after sitting too far off the pace. Horses returning to the Grand Annual have a very good record and Magic Saint has looked in good form this term. Bryony Frost could end up getting the ride on this classy chaser, and she’s sure to give him a much more aggressive ride than what he received 12 months ago. He could be an excellent each-way Cheltenham Festival tip.