RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL FESTIVAL NEWS: NICHOLLS AND FROST VICTORIOUS IN CLOSE BROTHERS RED RUM HANDICAP CHASE WITH SANS BRUIT
Thursday 11th April
Bryony Frost guided home Sans Bruit for a comfortable success in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase over two miles at Aintree today.
The six-year-old travelled well throughout and made virtually every yard of the running, galloping on strongly to win by four lengths from the 9-2 Favourite Saint Roi.
Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: “He’s been very keen, and it’s taken us a little while to get him settled and used to our way of racing. He ran very well at Chepstow last week and surprised us, for his first run over fences, and has progressed at home, so that’s why we’re here today. I said to Bryony, ‘You’ve got no weight, he’ll probably settle in front’, and she gave him a great ride.
“I thought turning in he’d be hard to beat, because he was jumping brilliantly and had everything else off the bridle, and off 10st 2lb, if he kept galloping, he’d be hard to beat.
“Bryony probably doesn’t get the opportunities she deserves in Britain; it’s hard for her but not just for Bryony, there are lots of good jockeys who don’t get all the opportunities. Obviously Harry [Cobden] is our first jockey, and I’d encourage her to go to France, as she’s suggested, and go from May until October, get rides, we’re not going to be busy, and come back in October. She can use that allowance and it can only be good for her.
“I think Dan Skelton was £44,000 in front [in the trainers’ championship] earlier on, and we’ve won some money, we were a grand in front at one point, then he won some money, and I think that’ll have put us back in front. It will be a close battle between us two between now and the end of the season, and if Willie [Mullins] wins the National, then it will get really interesting.
“I’ve got lots to run and we’ll go to Ayr, Sandown, Cheltenham - it will be a challenge, but the horses are running well and we’ll do our best.”
Bryony Frost said: “It was just awesome. The start was a nightmare, but it always is around here. Two miles around Aintree is always going to be blistering from the front, and you want a good start. Luckily, it played into my hands as he was quite keen for the first two furlongs. For a moment it was either sit just slightly off the leaders, but he was just locking on at that first bend so I let him bowl on. He absolutely loved being in attack mode into his fences. He was an absolute brilliant partner to have out there. I got a few breathers on the bend. He angled perfectly, like a professional, and that saved a lot of time. Down the back on the cross fence we got a little breather as a nice stride into that is vital. Somebody came to his girths, and he picked up, and I thought if you have got that much petrol let's start rolling again.
“It was all concentration at that point (over the last two fences) as I was trying to keep a rhythm, and his concentration. Those latter parts of a race they can get tired and lose focus. The last was met on a brilliant stride, and we were out and over, and I had time to look at the screen. What a lovely feeling to roll back in for a big race.
“For me there is a frustration when you feel you have so much to offer, but you can only deal with the opportunities you are getting. I’m thankful for everyone they get whether they come in quickly, or months apart, but I try and make the most of them when I get them.
“Today I was given the opportunity by the home team, and Sans Bruit’s owners, and it is just fantastic to give them a big winner when they have the confidence to give you that opportunity.
“I was riding at 10st 2lbs, and I missed breakfast to do it, but it paid off. You give me the ammunition and I will make it happen.
“Every race on a big stage is always going to hit where you want it to. The adrenaline, the focus, the positiveness before. The betting market supported him beforehand, and that fills you with massive confidence, as you always want to see yourself being backed in.
“The opportunities come when they come, and you make the most of them, and be thankful of them. I’m buzzing as we have got a big win. The crowd, and fans, here are phenomenal. I’ve always been supported overwhelming by them, and I feel it on the day at the tracks where I am riding so to really feel their appreciation is awesome. There have been parts of the season where it has been like pushing water up the hill, but you can’t sit down and cry about it.
“I’m not riding this Saturday, and there is frustration of course there is, as you are in the game to win, and you want to ride, and be out there, but there is nothing you can do about it but just work hard.”
