Matchbook Ambassador Bryony Frost gives her thoughts on her rides on Trials Day at Cheltenham
It was great to win on Silver Quay at Taunton on Saturday. We thought that he was getting there, and everything just clicked for him on the day.
He’s learning his track, that was his fourth run at Taunton since November, and I rode the same route. It was good ground, which he enjoys, and he jumped superbly. He was so well balanced, he was as balanced as I’ve ever felt him.
He won best-turned-out too. Philippa, our head girl, had him looking a picture. And Mum does so much with him. It was a real team effort.
I get such a buzz out of winning on one of Dad’s horses. Dad doesn’t have any superstars, but he finds a race for all of them if there is a race to be found for them.
Silver Quay went home and ate everything too. He thought he was the kingpin.
The handicapper put him up by 10lb, which leaves him on a mark of 100. Hopefully, he can still be competitive off that mark.
I’m really looking forward to riding Frodon in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Black Corton was entered in the race too, and I was having nightmares during the week, that the two boys would be taking each other on.
But Paul and the owners are beyond loyal, they decided to leave Black Corton at home.
I’m buzzing to be riding Frodon. He has to stay, it’s three miles and one and a half furlongs, but he is a year older now, he’s maturing. He listens to me more now too, which is a big help. I think he’ll stay. I hope he’ll stay.
Matchbook Betting Exchange Brand Ambassador Jockey Bryony Frost. Picture by Mikal Ludlow Photography 17-10-18
This will give us a good pointer for March if he gets there in one piece if I get there in one piece. He has options, which is great. I’m sure that he’ll give his all on Saturday, as he always does, over the trip, at a course he loves.
I get to ride Lil Rockerfeller in the Cleeve Hurdle. I have never ridden him in a race before, but I’ve seen lots of him at home in Neil’s. I’ve watched him closely.
He’s back over hurdles on Saturday, which should suit him.
Chasing just didn’t quite work out for him this year, he just wasn’t brave enough at his fences this year. But he loves his hurdling.
His engine and his body are still going great. If I can get him to give me six cylinders instead of four, if I can get him to work with me, then he could run a big race. It’s a tight race, but everyone has a squeak. He has his chance.
And I ride Dogon in the first race, the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle. He is a nice recruit from France. He even won a chase in France.
He’s a little guy, but he is put together well and he has settled in nicely to life at Ditcheat. He’s known as a little bit of a dude around the place.
French horses can sometimes take a little time to adapt to the English way of racing, but if he does adapt, he could do well. I’ve schooled him and he has done nothing wrong at home. It will be a learning curve for him, but it will be good to get him going, see what kind of horse we have.
