I can win it, just like my father!
The Grand National is in my blood. I wasn’t born when my dad Jimmy won it in 1989 riding Little Polveir — but I have watched the video more times than I could count! I remember one very rainy afternoon in front of the fire when dad and I got out the Little Polveir tape. It had the white sticker on it — proper old-school. We put it in the player and the grey lines came up before it got going. I remember watching all the prelims and the aftermath of it all and I got goosebumps. I do every time I watch it. Now I have got a chance to ride in the race and I couldn’t have a better horse to hold my hand than Milansbar. I don’t know why we clicked when we won the Warwick Classic Chase in January, you’d have to ask him. But we did. he was on a good day and he was ready to fire on all cylinders for me. he is big and brave and can go an even gallop for a very long time. That is exactly what you need in these marathon races. There was one fence down the back straight at Warwick where I said, ‘I think we should go in short chap, it’s a bit long’. he gave me two fingers and told me to sit still and pipe down and came up out of my hands. From there I knew to leave him to his own devices. My main aim will be to try to get into a rhythm, because rhythm wins races, especially the long ones. The first mile is trying to find a pocket to race in. The next two miles, you are trying to maintain a steady pace so your mount’s breathing and stride are the same. That keeps the lung capacity constant as they pump the red blood cells into their muscles. I’ve ridden over the Grand National fences twice before and was fourth in the Fox hunters’ Chase on Pacha Du Polder last season. I’ve learned that there is a second delay coming down off the National fences compared to a normal fence. You have to sit back a bit more. The exception is the Canal Turn. Dad’s advice about it being the sharpest bend you will ever ride round in your life was also completely right. Gravity is trying to pull you out, so you have to do the complete opposite. You don’t sit back but stay low, because Milansbar is going to turn, and turn fast. I will walk the course with dad but the Grand National is the most unpredictable race in the world. I will do what I have been doing since I was a little girl riding bareback around Dartmoor. I will get out there and race and jump with my horse. It was my 23rd birthday yesterday. Friday the 13th. If I was superstitious, I’d be stuffed! Winning the Grand National would be some present. I wouldn’t send that one back to the shop, that’s for sure.
lBryony Frost is sponsored by Matchbook, the betting exchange who are offering zero per cent commission on all UK and Irish racing until April 28