Bryony Frost says unknown 66-1 outsider has ‘brilliant’ chance at Cheltenham
BRYONY FROST thinks an unknown 66-1 has a ‘brilliant’ chance of a shock success at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
Sun Racing’s star columnist put in an extra good word for Stavvy in Wednesday’s Champion Bumper.
The Flat race is run over two miles and has been a benchmark for brilliant horses over the years, won by the likes of Sir Gerhard, Envoi Allen and Cue Card.
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Frost rode Stavvy to a nine-length win when the four-year-old gray was last seen at Southwell three weeks ago.
The Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained runner, who was sent off at 4-1, found an extra gear a furlong away and drove past the post.
Stavvy was the last horse to reach the 24-runner field when the declaration was made on Monday.
But she told Sun Racing the horse has a strong chance of beating his odds.
She said: “He is a beautiful horse that I won on for Jane Chapple-Hyam at Southwell and he really impressed me.
“He was in great condition when I worked him at Newmarket on Thursday – I struggled to pull him up!
“Now he’s in line and I, believe me, he’s definitely not a 66-1 shot!”
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That’s Frost’s only booked ride at the festival at the time of this writing, so she’ll give anything to pull off an upset.
But she also had a good word to say about some of Paul Nicholls’ chances.
Frost, who finishes at Ditcheat, said: “Paul is sending a select team, but there is still plenty to look forward to.
“You can scratch Stage Star’s last run and you will see a much better horse if he goes for Ryanair.
“It is a front-runner’s race that requires good jumping and he can certainly do that.
“I recently galloped Stay Away Fay – who is in the Brown Advisory – at Kempton and he jumped impeccably.
“He is an extreme stayer who you wouldn’t trade for anything else.
‘Last year he won the Albert Bartlett but fencing is definitely his thing – he has trained brilliantly and is in very good condition.
“Ginny’s Destiny is one of the favorites for the Turner and rightly so as he is constantly improving.
“This is of course his biggest test to date, but he is a course specialist, knows his way around and is a very flexible jumper.
“Il Ridoto is back for another crack at the Plate and he is completely refreshed, boxing and playing.
“He always makes a bold offer and will do it again.
“And I have to mention Bravemans game in the Gold Cup. Hopefully the ground won’t be too sticky, because that will test his endurance.
But he’s back where the team wants him and if things dry out a bit by the end of the week, he’ll blast over the last two hurdles there.
“Paul has a nice team for the Bumper, and Teeshan looks great. He has made a lot of gains in the past two weeks.
“But don’t forget the Quebecois, a kind of Captain Teague – who will welcome the step up if he goes for the Albert Bartlett – and who has also worked well.”
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