BRYONY DREAMS OF GOLDEN DAYS
BRYONY FROST is daring to dream of Gold Cup glory after Frodon gave a command performance in the dress rehearsal for chasing’s blue riband at Cheltenham yesterday.
The Paul Nichollstrained seven-year-old forged his reputation as a specialist at the home of jump racing, with three victories over two and a half miles in handicap company.
But, racing beyond three miles for the first time in a Grade 2 trial for jump racing’s most cherished prize, Frodon and Frost made every yard of the running to hold off the late challenge of Welsh Grand National runner-up Elegant Escape.
Frodon is as low as 12-1 for the Gold Cup and Frost, who would make history as the first female winner of the race, said with a smile: “Everyone has to dare a little bit, don’t they? We all have to dream just a tad sometimes! My heart is fluttering from that.
“I’ve never ridden a horse that has a heart like him – I call upon him, and he answers me every time.”
Nicholls, who saddled the most recent of his four Gold Cup triumphs when the great Kauto Star regained his title in 2009, is confident Frodon will last home over an additional furlong and 14 yards on March
“He loves the track and he’s improving rapidly. In a year that I think is wide open, I’d be definitely dead keen to go for the Gold Cup.”
Paisley Park and Aidan Coleman blitzed heir rivals in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) and is now 7-2 favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the National Hunt Festival.
Traimer Emma Lavelle said: “He’s got a great way of going. He doesn’t use any more energy than he needs to.
“Then, when Aidan winds him up, he just picks up and picks up.”