Frost excited by the challenge as she turns professional

Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Bryony Frost is set to have her first ride as a professional aboard Grissom, trained by her father Jimmy, in the selling hurdle (3.25) at Southwell on Sunday.

Frost, who hit the headlines when landing the Foxhunter aboard Pacha Du Polder for boss Paul Nicholls as an amateur in March, is relishing the new challenge.

“I’ve got my licence through and I can’t wait to get going,” she said on Saturday. “It’s a big step forward, but very exciting to have the confidence and support of people to allow me to do something I’ve always wanted.

“I can’t thank Paul enough. I certainly wouldn’t be turning professional if I didn’t have his support. He's given me massive opportunities and I'm very grateful.

“I’ve been at Ditcheat for 12 months now and I plan to work hard in the yard, keep my head down and hope things go my way. It’s racing – there are no guarantees.”

Frost has signed up with jockeys’ agent Dave Roberts and is determined to make the most of chances that come her way.

“Winning at Cheltenham was what dreams are made of,” she continued. “However, every winner is a step forward and I take great satisfaction from every one of them.”

Also worth looking out for at Southwell is Peace And Co – the dominant juvenile of the 2014-15 season and winner of the Triumph Hurdle that March – who makes his second start over fences in the 2m novice chase (2.20).

A comfortable winner at odds of 1-5 under Daryl Jacob at Hexham last month, the six-year-old, who contested the 2016 Champion Hurdle won by Annie Power, faces three rivals, headed by Azzuri, and is likely to start a very short-priced favourite once again.

At Perth, the feature race is the 2m4f Perth Silver Cup (4.10).

Tom George, a regular long-distance visitor to the Scottish track, saddles one of the leading contenders in Valseur Du Granval, the mount of stable jockey Adrian Heskin.

A winner at Towcester, Kempton and Chepstow last season, the eight-year-old put up one of his best performances last time out at Uttoxeter when runner-up to Days Of Heaven and is reported in good shape for his latest challenge.

“It was a good run last time and we’ve aimed him at this race for a while,” George said.

“Perth is a great course. They do a good job with the ground, put on great prize-money and look after owners so well. I always look forward to having runners there.”

Anne Barnes, wife of Indian Voyage’s trainer Maurice, is hopeful of a big run from their nine-year-old, who has dropped to an attractive mark.

Rated 131 around this time last year, Indian Voyage competes off just 117 this time and showed clear signs of a return to form when fourth to Tangolan over course and distance this month.

“He ran quite well last time and seems to be coming back to himself,” she said. “He went off the boil a bit when he was rated so high but has a nice low weight this time and has dropped down the handicap.

“The owners are super people and I’m hoping he puts up a decent show for them.”