Frost warming to Chepstow bid
BRYONY FROST reports Yala Enki in excellent shape as he bids to make it third time lucky in the rearranged Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
Frost hopes to strive for more big- race glory in tomorrow’s extended three- mile- five furlong showpiece – initially scheduled for December 27.
After finishing third in the 2018 renewal when trained by Venetia Williams, Yala Enki filled the same spot under Frost in the Grade Three marathon 12 months ago after switching to the stables of Paul Nicholls.
Although the pair crashed out at the first fence in last month’s Becher Chase at Aintree – the frantic early pace did them no favours – the jockey is hopeful of adding to her landmark King George VI Chase success on Frodon on Boxing Day. Frost also draws confidence from her mount’s second- place finish at Cheltenham’s prestigious November meeting to the Tom Scudamore- ridden Ramses de Teillee who also features in the Chepstow entries.
She said: “He has schooled since Aintree – and if anything he is schooling even better than before, so we will ignore the mishap at Aintree.
“The Cheltenham run off topweight was a mega run for him – and I really do feel he is better this year, in his work at home and just the way that he is.
“His jumping has seriously sharpened up, and Paul and Clifford ( Baker, head lad) have been giving him lots of schooling sessions which do him the world of good.
“It would have been nice for it to have gone ahead when it was supposed to, but he hasn’t dulled down when he was ready to rock and roll.”
With testing conditions almost certainly guaranteed this weekend – the meeting must pass an inspection this afternoon because of forecast snow – Frost cites another box ticked in favour of Yala Enki, who is one of two runners in the race for Nicholls alongside last year’s runner- up Truckers Lodge. She went on: “The more testing it can become the better it is for him so fingers are firmly crossed that it will be on, come hail, rain, snow or whatever.
“If we get there and it’s raceable then I will be really looking forward to it, because he has stamina in abundance.
“It is a long way, but he is tough and he enjoys that sort of challenge.”
Frost is confident Yala Enki will not be out of his comfort zone early on either.
She said: “This race is like a cavalry charge at the start, and you have to find your position really fast.
“He has got plenty of pace on early doors. He likes to get travelling quickly, so he is perfect for that sort of start.
“It is all about a positive start and getting in a quick rhythm and staying out of trouble and trying to find your fences economically.”
Meanwhile, Sue Smith’s Midnight Shadow and Ruth Jefferson’s Waiting Patiently both feature amongst 50 initial entries for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Waiting Patiently, runner- up to the aforementioned Frodon in the King George, also features in 31 entries for the two- mile Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The field is headed by defending champion Politologue while two- time winner Altior features despite disappointing on his reappearance at Kempton’s Christmas meeting.
Magic Saint also features for Yorkshire businessman John Cotton while First Flow – winner of Wetherby’s Castleford Chase – has, as expected, been handed an entry.
Trainer Kim Bailey is considering options for the nine- yearold who was another high- profile winner for in- form jockey David Bass.
“First Flow is a horse that needs heavy ground, and he was very brave when winning at Wetherby over the Festive period,” said Bailey. “The Champion Chase is something we would think about, but the ground is going to be an important factor for him.”
The favourite is Chacun Pour Soi as Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins looks to win the only major race to elude him. Paul Townend’s mount has yet to run at Cheltenham, having missed this contest last season due to a last- minute injury.
He has, however, looked imperious in two races so far this season.