Bryony Frost is forced to give up her Grand National dream after telling Paul Nicholls she is staying in France
Bryony Frost has been forced to abandon her attempt to win the Randox Grand National after being claimed by her retained owners to ride in France instead of Aintree.
Frost was due to have her first ride in Great Britain since November this weekend on Merseyside, with her old boss Paul Nicholls having booked the 29-year-old to partner Stay Away Fay.
The gelding will now be ridden instead by Jonathan Burke, as Nicholls attempts to win the race for a second time.
In an interview with Mail Sport last weekend, Frost had spoken with great enthusiasm about lining up at Aintree and trying to win the race her father, Jimmy, landed in 1989 on Little Polveir.
Bryony Frost told Mail Sport just how excited she was at the prospect of lining up at Aintree
Paul Nicholls hopes that Stay Away Fay (pictured) will give him a second Grand National win
Jonathan Burke will now have the honour of riding the gelding in Saturday’s big race
However, Frost has now been told that she is required to go to Nancy by her employers Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
She rode two winners for them last weekend, at Fontainebleau and Auteuil, and her presence is needed across the Channel.
Nicholls said at Wincanton: ‘Unfortunately Bryony texted me saying that she has to stay in France. I’m delighted to have booked Jonathan to ride Stay Away Fay.’
