Bryony Frost says unknown 66-1 outsider has a ‘brilliant’ chance at Cheltenham Festival
BRYONY FROST reckons an unknown 66-1 has a ‘brilliant’ chance of a shock success at Cheltenham Festival.
Sun Racing’s star columnist has 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 guide to brilliant horses down the years, being won by the likes of Sir Gerhard, Envoi Allen and Cue Card.
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Frost rode Stavvy to a nine-length victory when the four-year-old grey was last seen at Southwell three weeks ago.
Sent off 4-1, the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained runner found an extra gear a furlong from home and cruised past the post.
Stavvy was the last horse to make it into the 24-runner field when declarations were made on Monday.
But she told Sun Racing the horse has a great chance of outrunning his odds.
She said: “He’s a lovely horse I won on for Jane Chapple-Hyam at Southwell, and he really impressed me.
“He was in brilliant order when I worked him at Newmarket on Thursday — I struggled to pull him up!
“Now he lines up and I, believe me, he is certainly no 66-1 shot!”
That is Frost’s only booked ride at the Festival at the time of writing so she will be giving it her all to spring an upset.
But she had a good word to say about a few of Paul Nicholls’ chances too.
Frost, who rides out at Ditcheat, said: “Paul is sending a select team, but there is still plenty to look forward to.
“You can scratch the last run by Stage Star and you’ll see a much better horse when he goes for the Ryanair.
“It’s a front-runners’ race demanding good jumping and he can certainly do that.
“I galloped Stay Away Fay — who is in the Brown Advisory — at Kempton recently and he jumped impeccably.
“He’s an extreme stayer who you wouldn’t swap for anything else.
“He won the Albert Bartlett last year, but fences are definitely his game — he’s been schooling brilliantly and is in very good order.
“Ginny’s Destiny is among the favourites for the Turner and rightly so, because he’s improving all the time.
“Obviously this is his biggest test so far, but he’s a course specialist, knows his way around and is a really slick jumper.
“Il Ridoto is back for another crack at the Plate and he’s really perked up again, bucking and playing.
“He always puts in a bold bid and will do again.
“And I have to mention Bravemansgame in the Gold Cup. Hopefully the ground won’t be too tacky, because that does test his stamina.
“But he’s back to where the team wants him to be and, if dries out a bit by the end of the week, he’ll be bang there over the last two fences.
“Paul has a nice team for the Bumper, and Teeshan looks a million dollars. He’s come on a ton over the last fortnight.
“But don’t forget Quebecois, a similar sort to Captain Teague — who will welcome the step up if he goes for the Albert Bartlett — and has been working well too.”
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