Nicholls believes Frost will win fitness race for Boxing Day showpiece
Trainer Paul Nicholls is confident Bryony Frost will win fitness race for Boxing Day showpiece at Kempton after breaking her collarbone at Bangor in late November
- Bryony Frost is facing a fitness race to ride in the King George Chase at Kempton
- The jockey has been out since breaking her collarbone at Bangor in November
- Trainer Paul Nicholls is confident she will recover to ride Frodon on Boxing Day
Trainer Paul Nicholls is confident Bryony Frost will be fit to take the ride on Frodon in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day after a warm-up next week.
Frost has been out since breaking her collar bone in a crashing fall at Bangor on November 26.
Nicholls said: ‘She has to have some tests on Monday but I’ve told her next Wednesday she could ride Country Lady, who is Frodon’s sister and is going to make her debut in the Bumper at Lingfield. That will get her ready for Boxing Day.
Bryony Frost is facing a fitness race to ride in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton
‘She has not stood still. She’s done some swimming and running but I would like to see her riding out for a week before.’
Should Frost not pass her fitness test, Lorcan Williams will stand in on Frodon, who won the 2020 King George before finishing fourth last year.
Nicholls, who will have three runners in a race he is trying to win for the 13th time, confirmed stable jockey Harry Cobden would ride Bravemansgame with Sam Twiston-Davies on Hitman.
Nicholls added: ‘Harry has won a Grade One on Bravemansgame and is very happy to be on him. We’ve had a great preparation with him.
‘He wasn’t fully wound up when he won the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, but we have done a lot with him since because we want him ready to run for his life. We had a few issues with him last season but are learning about him all the time.
British Trainer Paul Nicholls (centre) is confident she will recover to ride Frodon on Boxing Day
‘It is probably his biggest test yet, but if he were to win the King George, I suspect we’d then go straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
‘Hitman is rated only 4lb behind Bravemansgame, which is not a lot. He’s only six and has achieved a lot for a young horse.
‘Three miles will bring out plenty of improvement in him. He is the finished article now and will give Sam a fantastic ride. He won’t be far off Bravemansgame.’
Racing fans must survive on a diet of all-weather Flat racing until Monday after all this week’s remaining jumps fixtures were abandoned.
Saturday’s Ascot meeting was due to feature the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle, which has now been added to the Boxing Day programme at Kempton.
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