Bryony Frost handed first Grand National ride on Milansbar

Bryony Frost has been handed the chance to cap her breakthrough season with her first ride in the Randox Health Grand National.

Trainer Neil King confirmed the 22-year-old conditional has been booked to ride Milansbar, the horse she partnered to glory in the Grade 3 Warwick Classic, in the April 14 feature at Aintree.

Frost faces a nervous wait for what would be her third ride at Aintree as Milansbar needs five horses to come out of the world's biggest jumps race to make the final field of 40.

Although Milansbar is a 40-1 chance with bookmakers his trainer feels he is a leading contender.

"I've been saying for three years he is a perfect horse for the race and he has got such a lovely weight as well.

"It also looks like we could get a soft-ground National, which would help him a lot, so it is very exciting."

King had thought Milansbar had no chance of making the field when there were more than 20 ahead of him, but the latest acceptance stage leaves Milansbar 45th in a total field of 73.

"We wouldn't have run in the Eider and Midlands National if we knew he would be in this position, but we have a month to get him ready for the National."

The news also gives Frost the chance to emulate her father Jimmy, who rode the 1989 winner Little Polveir.

There are some good omens for Frost to draw from as she becomes only the 16th woman to ride in the race, looking to improve on Katie Walsh's best result when third on Seabass in 2012.

Frost has ridden Milansbar only once when clicking with the 11-year-old in the equally gruelling Warwick Classic in January.

That race had been won the year before by One For Arthur, who went on to win the Grand National on his next start, while 11-year-olds won three consecutive Nationals in Neptune Collonges, Auroras Encore and Pineau De Re.

Bryony Frost after winning the conditional jockeys handicap hurdleKempton 9.2.18 Pic: Edward WhitakerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Milansbar and Frost were foot perfect over that 3m5f and 22 fences at Warwick, and Milansbar warmed up for Aintree with a fine second over 4m2f in the Midlands Grand National under amateur Jack Andrews.

Frost, who will not be able to claim her 3lb allowance in the feature, became the second woman after Lizzie Kelly to ride a Grade 1 winner when partnering Black Corton to win the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

The pair were out of luck at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing fifth in the RSA Chase, where Frost had won the Foxhunter on Pacha Du Polder last year – since when she has not looked back with 31 winners this season.

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