Bryony Frost out to stop Tiger Roll on mount reminiscent of former National hero
Bryony Frost will bid to upstage dual winner Tiger Roll on Yala Enki in the Randox Health Grand National and on Tuesday her mount was likened to former winner Neptune Collonges.
No woman has ridden the winner of the world's most famous race, with Katie Walsh coming closest when finishing third on Seabass behind Neptune Collonges in 2012.
But Frost, who broke new ground when winning a Grade 1 chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Frodon last March, will bid to go two places better on Welsh National third Yala Enki, on whom she won at Taunton last month.
Trainer Paul Nicholls, who saddled Neptune Collonges to his nose victory over Sunnyhillboy, said: "Yala Enki's very much like Neptune Collonges as he's a real stayer with a touch of class. He's run well over three and a half miles at Haydock and he's a similar type of horse. Bryony rides him well and gets on well with him, she suits him.
"He was only beaten a little way at Chepstow. I'm still learning about him and I think I can get him better than we've had him. He won well at Taunton."
Yala Enki could run in the Unibet Grand National Trial at Haydock on Saturday but Badger Ales Trophy-winning stablemate Give Me A Copper, who is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, will head straight to Aintree.
"He needs to be fresh like he was before the Badger Ales," Nicholls said. "We're not going to run him beforehand. He has a lovely weight and I always thought he'd be a great Aintree horse."
This year's Grand National marks the tenth anniversary of Don't Push It's victory under Sir Anthony McCoy, who still works for owner JP McManus, this year represented by eight entries.
Assessing the quintet set to get a place in the line-up, McCoy said: "Kimberlite Candy is the shortest one in the betting. He won nicely at Warwick and before that had run well over the National fences in the Becher. I wouldn't say he has been specifically trained for the National - he won the big one at Warwick, so he was definitely trained for that race!
"Anibale Fly has been a good horse but is getting on a bit. I would imagine he'll run at Aintree and he’s better off at the weights with Tiger Roll, but rightly so given the way he has been running this season. On his best form he would have a chance.
"Ok Corral got a very good ride at Doncaster last time but he has been a bit hit and miss.
"Any Second Now won the Kim Muir last season and finished third in the Leopardstown Chase. His trainer certainly knows how to win the National.
"Regal Encore will probably get into the race but I would be surprised if he could win a Grand National – if the race was run at Ascot he would definitely win it, though!"
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Published on 11 February 2020inBritain
Last updated 13:40, 13 January 2021
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