Bryony Frost to pilot Intense Raffles at Navan

The Thomas Gibney-trained grey, was unbeaten in his three starts on Irish turf last season including the Irish Grand National under J J Slevin and two impressive Fairyhouse victories with Daryl Jacob.

Injury has forced both those riders to miss out on a trip to Navan so connections have turned to Frost to ride the six-year-old.

In France, Frost is the retained rider for Intense Raffles owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, and will step in for the Listed Bective Stud, Tea Rooms & Apartments Handicap Hurdle over three miles and a furlong.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to the owners, said: “Tom’s very happy with the horse and he’s ready to get started. I don’t think he’s been thrown in on this hurdles start off a handicap mark of 141, but let’s see.

“Bryony is looking forward to riding him, she’s coming over on Friday to sit on him and then will ride him on Saturday.

“Daryl is injured and so is J J Slevin, they are both on the sidelines and Bryony isn’t racing in France on Saturday.

“That worked quite well, she’s a super-sub for us and we’re looking forward to seeing him over hurdles.

“When Daryl’s back he’ll be back on the horse, he’s the number one retained rider in England and Ireland and his recovery is going well by all accounts.

“Things are all aimed towards Aintree in April, but it will be interesting to see how he is over smaller obstacles, he’s never really run over them because French hurdles are so different,” added Bromley.

“Tom feels his asset is his jumping and we’re probably not using it, which is why I feel 141 is pretty high because it’s his ability over a fence that is his asset and we’re negating it by going hurdling.

“We’ll see how he goes and where we are anyway, and he’ll tell us what to do next.”