Kauto Star Novices' Chase
Grade 1, Kempton Park 13:55 £75,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
Tuesday 26th December 2017

1 Black Corton 4/1
2 Elegant Escape 11/2
3 West Approach 11/1
7 ran Distances: 1½l, 21l, 4½l
Time: 6m 9.40s (slow by 15.40s)

Black Corton caps Bryony Frost's amazing year with a Grade One winner

Black Corton
photo Ladbokes via Twitter

Bryony Frost landed the first Grade One of her career, emulating Lizzie Kelly, who achieved the feat on Tea For Two in the same race in 2015, but it did not seem possible until the race changed complexion when Mia's Storm fell at the fifth-last fence and Fountains Windfall came down four out when in front. 

That left Black Corton (4-1) at the head of affairs and the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old, winning for the seventh time since June, kept on gallantly to score by a length and a half from Elegant Escape.

Frost said: "This little horse started off just an average little chap at the back of the classroom but now he's an A-star student.

"It just shows if you are brave what you can achieve. I'm so proud of him.

"I live for sitting on the back of a horse and he's my hero.

"I hadn't even remembered it was a Grade One - it's amazing."

Nicholls said: "What a fantastic ride. That's her first ride in a Grade One and she's won it.

"I so nearly didn't run him as he's been off his food for a couple of days and it was only yesterday he came back on it. 

"He's the most astonishing horse. This is great for everybody."

Nicholls added: "He ran at Fontwell and Worcester and has just got better and better. He looked great in the paddock and deserved to run in a Grade One. 

"To win a Grade One with Bryony on is fantastic. 

"He'll have a break now, we'll give him a holiday and I suspect it will be straight to Cheltenham, whether he runs before I doubt it. It will be Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring." 

Frost admitted she is living the dream. 

She said: "He's been a magnificent horse and it just proves if you keep working hard and are brave enough you'll get somewhere in life. 

"I like to believe in my horse and you've just got to be positive and make something of them. To go to war with him is an honour. 

"I keep pinching myself and this is what I've been dreaming of doing. Today I've made a memory." 

Colin Tizzard was satisfied with runner-up Elegant Escape and West Approach, who was third home. 

He said: "To be fair, the one that beat us, beat us on merit. 

"I am chuffed. He is a lovely, big five-year-old and he has run into a progressive horse. 

"West Approach has probably run one of the best runs of his life. His jumping is getting better all the time. 

"He does frighten himself a bit occasionally. There are no hiding places in these Grade Ones but he travelled well into it. 

"I would think they will both go for the RSA. Elegant Escape is going to be six in a few days and we could think about putting him in the four-miler as well."

Kauto Star Novices' Chase
(Formerly The Feltham Novices' Chase) (Grade 1)
£75,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1,
7 ran
Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places