Frost confident luck can change on Present Man in Badger Beers hat-trick bid

After a couple of big weekends where the fickle finger of fate pointed in the wrong direction, Bryony Frost is hoping to put matters right when Present Man bids for a historic hat-trick in the Listed Badger Beers Silver Trophy Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Saturday.

Frost was left disappointed after low sun spoiled Ryanair Chase hero Frodon's comeback at Aintree last Sunday week, with the tenacious chaser's excellent jumping not coming into play in the closing stages of the Old Roan Chase after the three fences in the home straight were omitted.

While the lack of jumping proved costly at Aintree as Frodon was outpaced by winner Forest Bihan and slipped to third, it was a fence that led to more disappointment at Ascot last weekend when Frost's mount Capeland was disqualified following a dramatic incident with stablemate Diego Du Charmil in the Listed Byrne Group Handicap Chase.

Capeland and Frost were contesting the lead and clear of the rest when Diego Du Charmil veered violently left approaching the final fence, carrying Capeland with him.

Although Diego Du Charmil managed to jump the birch wing of the fence and won the race, Capeland was forced between the fence and the plastic wing, ending his chance of victory. The stewards disqualified the seven-year-old, who finished fifth past the post.

Capeland (right) and Bryony Frost are forced through the wing of the final fence at Ascot behind Diego Du CharmilCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Despite her recent high-profile setbacks, Frost remains upbeat for her ride at Wincanton on Present Man, a two-time winner of Saturday's £60,000 prize.

Speaking at Exeter on Tuesday, Frost said: “Racing is full of ups and downs and the low sun at Aintree meant Frodon’s big asset of jumping really did not come into play at a vital stage of the race and it cost him.

“I don’t really know how you sum up what happened to Capeland at Ascot as it was a set of circumstances that might never happen again. It was one of those things but you cannot let it get to you. This game is all about staying positive and that’s me.”

Present Man, who will be making his seasonal reappearance, is bidding to become the first to complete a hat-trick in the historic handicap chase.

Bryony Frost celebrates back-to-back victories in the Badger Ales Chase on Present ManCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Frost added: “It’s a tough ask but he goes there all guns blazing and, though I don’t ride him at home, they tell me he's raring to go. There would be no more fitting winner as his owners Mark and Tessa Woodhouse have strong ties with the sponsors.

“Winning the race has been like their Gold Cup for the last two years, especially as Mark was chairman at Wincanton until recently. Some people have written off his chance for the last two years and he has proved them wrong and he might well do so again.”

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