Frodon wrote Bryony Frost into Festival history as the first woman to ride a top-level Grade One winner over jumps at Cheltenham. The 9/2 chance landed an emotional triumph in the Ryanair Chase, holding off a spirited challenge from 33/1 shot Aso – under Charlie Deutsch – up the hill.
It was Frost’s second victory at the Festival after she partnered Pacha Du Polder to glory in the Foxhunter Chase in 2017. “He’s Pegasus,” said a tearful Frost of the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding. “We have climbed a mountain to get to this. It’s incredible and I’ll enjoy every minute of it.”
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The 23-year-old follows in the path of the now retired Katie Walsh, who won a Grade One race at the Festival last year when Relegate came home first in the Champion Bumper, which is a flat race under National Hunt rules.
Frodon had been considered for a tilt at the longer Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday but it was felt the seven-year-old would be better suited by this contest on rain-softened ground.
“He’s the most incredible battler,” added Frost. “He travelled, my God he jumped, and the moment he got overtaken two out, most horses would have quit. He grabbed me by the hands and said don’t you dare give up. He’s unbelievable. He deserves every single high five, pat and carrot.”
