I KNOW everyone’s counting down the days to Christmas – well I’m ticking them off for 24 hours later.
Unfortunately they don’t do advent calendars for Boxing Day, but that’s the big one for us… the King George at Kempton, when Frodon goes for the double.
I can tell you he is certainly in great spirits, and was so boisterous when I galloped him at Wincanton on Wednesday.
Put it this way, my arms were a little longer in the evening than they were in the morning!
Frode was the one taking me for a gallop rather than the other way around.
He really enjoyed himself and was so cool.
Fingers crossed it’s all systems go for Kempton, although obviously there are quite a few rides before then.
Two of them are at Ascot this afternoon, starting with Dolos in the handicap chase.
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He always gives you everything, but unfortunately that means he doesn’t get any mercy off the handicapper and carries top weight again.
Dolos is such fun to be with out there and one day he WILL have his big moment again at some stage.
Paul Nicholls also runs Diego Du Charmil and hopefully we can turn in and give everyone something to cheer for.
Then I’m on Onemorefortheroad in the Betfair Exchange handicap hurdle, who’s a lovely young horse that we’ve always thought a lot of since his bumper days.
EVERYTHING RAMPING UP TO BOXING DAY
All he has done is progress and really impressed me when we won at Stratford.
I remember saying to Neil King afterwards that he can definitely look at this and graded races now.
He’s got the experience to handle his speed now, and went on to win a listed race last time at Newbury.
There’s not much rain on the horizon, which will suit him, and although we’re stepping into a deeper pool, it will be really exciting to see how he handles the next level.
Onemorefortheroad has done everything right and I look forward to riding him.
When you need him to change gears up or down, he does it straight away.
He’s perfect like that, such an uncomplicated soul who just loves competing and that’s all you can ask for.
Then I’ve got a really busy Sunday, with five rides booked at Fakenham, so we’re up and down the country at the moment.
HOPE FANS REMAIN
Sadly, though, Covid appears to be sinking its teeth back into the country and obviously everyone is stepping up on the precautions and the regulations.
We have to show our vaccination certificates when we go racing, and the masks are back on in the paddock and down to the start.
I just hope the public can keep on coming to the races, because it was very quiet and dull without them last time.
But the most important thing is for everyone to stay safe and healthy, and hopefully we can do just that.
Until next week, keep kicking.
Interview by Phil Thomas. Bryony Frost is an ambassador for horseracing.co.uk. Follow her on Instagram @officialbryonyfrost
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