'He was a fairytale' - Bryony Frost hails impact of Black Corton on her career

Bryony Frost has paid tribute to Black Corton for playing a crucial role in her career after the Grade 1-winning chaser was retired following Saturday's Close Brothers Handicap Chase at Kempton.

The Paul Nicholls-trained ten-year-old failed to complete for his third race in a row when pulled up by Frost and will now spend a happy retirement in the jockey's care in Devon.

Black Corton career record

The rise of Black Corton, who was owned by a combination of the Brooks and Stewart families and TV presenter Jeremy Kyle, was perfectly aligned with that of Frost, who became only the second woman in Britain or Ireland to ride a Grade 1 winner over obstacles when the pair won the 2017 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton.

Black Corton also won two Grade 2s, the 2018 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase and the 2019 Oaksey Chase, with his Sandown success as memorable as any for Frost as it was her first ride back from a broken collarbone.

"To have a horse like that come along in my career and take me to the heights he did was phenomenal," said Frost. "It was a massive day winning the Grade 1 at Kempton, but I'll never forget that feeling after the Oaksey Chase at Sandown.

"It was a close-run thing getting back to ride him, but there was no way I wanted to miss him. And then it all fell into place the way it did. Fairytales are a cliche, but he really is.

"We were diving in at the deep end at Kempton [in 2017] but we decided to give him the best go we could and said 'catch me if you can'. To be able to say I'd won a Grade 1 so early in my career was all down to him."

Bryony Frost returns to the winner's enclosure on Black Corton after the Oaksey ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Black Corton won 14 of his 40 starts – eight of those under Frost – and amassed just shy of £400,000 in prize-money. His role in helping Frost develop her riding skills was priceless.

"He was my first ride as a conditional at Worcester in 2017," she said. "I don't think anyone quite predicted where we'd go and what we'd achieve.

"He taught me how to think faster on the track, look for a longer stride and drive harder. The more we won, the more expectation was on us and he taught me how to deal with pressure.

"He's been an overachiever and that's down to Paul's placing and the expertise of everyone at home. His determination was second to none."

Frost felt more than a hint of relief at the decision to retire Black Corton and she is looking forward to taking care of him in his retirement.

"Yesterday was funny as I was happy," she said. "He's had 40 runs and left nothing behind and he's safe and happy.

"He's coming home to Devon to fill his belly with as much grass as he can and go gallivanting around the moor. Everyone at home is so excited to have him, there's already a booking list for people to come and give him pats and carrots."

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