Grand National 2025: Paul Nicholls makes late jockey change for one of five runners

Bryony Frost will miss the £1 million Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday where she was booked to ride for old boss Paul Nicholls.

Frost, 29, a and King George VI Chase-winning jockey, has had two previous rides in the race, finishing fifth on Milansbar in 2018 and was unseated on Yala Enki four years ago. For the last ten months she has based herself in France where she is retained to ride the runners trained over the Channel which race for ‘double green’ owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

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The leading owners have Intense Raffles, last year’s Irish Grand National winner and is one of the favourites for the big race at Aintree where he will be ridden by JJ Slevin.

Frost was due to return to Britain this week to ride at the Grand National festival, where she rode a winner last year.

Nicholls, who will saddle five runners, had booked her to ride Stay Away Fay, who won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, who is a 80-1 chance.

The 14-time champion jumps trainer has recruited another French-based jockey, James Reveley, to partner Bravemansgame, while stable jockey Harry Cobden partners Kandoo Kid, 19-year-old Freddie Gingell rides Sir ’s Hitman and Harry Skelton is on Threeunderthrufive.

But Nicholls had to replace Frost on Monday, with Jonathan Burke, after it emerged she would have commitments in France for Munir and Souede on the same day.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to Munir and Souede, said: “Bryony is retained to ride in France.

“She has rides Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We have four double green entries on Saturday from our French trainers so she is staying in France to ride them. It’s a busier weekend than we expected.”