Horse racing - Frost makes history with Grade One win at Cheltenham

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Bryony Frost celebrates on Frodon after winning the 2.50 Ryanair Chase as trainer Paul Nicholls (R) looks on REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

(Reuters) - Bryony Frost shed tears of joy when she became the first woman to ride a top-level Grade One Cheltenham Festival winner aboard Frodon in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday.

Frost, 23, was cheered by a crowd of nearly 70,000 after 9-2 shot Frodon's front-running victory was secured by a length and a quarter for 10-times champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

"He's had his day. He's Pegasus. He's the most incredible battler," she said of Frodon, a Cheltenham specialist, who held off 33-1 outsider Asos and Road To Respect.

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Bryony Frost celebrates on Frodon after winning the 2.50 Ryanair Chase Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

"He travelled, my God he jumped, and the moment he got overtaken two out most horses would have quit. He grabbed me by the hands and said don't you dare give up. He's unbelievable!"

Nicholls, who has trained great horses including Kauto Star and Denman, called it "one of the best days ever".

A beaming Frost, who had a fall last year which sidelined her for three months, punched the air after the most high-profile victory by a female rider at the showpiece meeting.

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Siruh Du Lac ridden by Lizzie Kelly (R) in action during the 4.10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

In an interview with Reuters this month Frost said: "It's The Festival and such a rare thing to win.

"If you look at the top of the mountain, it's a long way up but if you take it step by step then you will keep going up.

"If you only make it half way, well you've still done well and if you get to the top, only then you can take in the view."

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Lizzie Kelly celebrates on Siruh Du Lac after winning the 4.10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Frost was a Festival-winning rider as an amateur in the 2017 Foxhunter Chase on Nicholls-trained Pacha Du Polder.

The Devon-born jockey had chalked up her first Grade One triumph in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton in December with Black Corton.

Lizzie Kelly became the first woman to ride a Grade One winner over fences on Tea For Two in the same race in 2015.

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Frodon ridden by Bryony Frost in action during the 2.50 Ryanair Chase Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Kelly also enjoyed success on Thursday by riding Siruh Du Lac to victory in the Grade Three handicap chase.

Frost had ridden Frodon to three previous wins at Cheltenham on top of victory in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree this season.

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Siruh Du Lac ridden by Lizzie Kelly in action during the 4.10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

(Reporting by Ken Ferris; Editing by Ed Osmond)

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Bryony Frost celebrates on Frodon after winning the 2.50 Ryanair Chase REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Bryony Frost celebrates with a trophy after winning the 2.50 Ryanair Chase Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Bryony Frost celebrates on Frodon after winning the 2.50 Ryanair Chase as trainer Paul Nicholls (R) looks on Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Bryony Frost celebrates with a trophy after winning the 2.50 Ryanair Chase REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2019 Lizzie Kelly celebrates on Siruh Du Lac after winning the 4.10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase REUTERS/Eddie Keogh