Bryony Frost rode Frodon to a historic success in the King George VI Chase last year and Britain’s most successful female jockey believes the nine-year-old is as fit and strong as ever as they attempt to follow up at Kempton on Sunday. It was in the aftermath of her win on the 20-1 outsider in last year’s race that rumours emerged of issues between Frost and a weighing-room colleague which culminated in Robbie Dunne being banned from riding for 18 months this month after a disciplinary panel decided he had subjected her to a seven-month campaign of bullying and harassment. The jockey will be determined to put that behind her. “It is mad to think we won the race 12 months ago and it really doesn’t feel that long ago,” Frost said this week. “Everyone has counted down to Christmas Day but I’ve been counting down to Boxing Day. “Frodon galloped at Wincanton last week and my arms were a couple of inches longer that evening from him towing me around in the boisterous way he does. I was happy with that. We schooled together on Monday and it was just how we wanted it with him near enough out of control.” There were no racegoers at Kempton 12 months ago to give Frost the acclaim she deserved after becoming the first female jockey to win the highlight of the Christmas racing programme. At least 10,000 fans are expected on Sunday, however, and a repeat win for Frodon would be hugely popular. “One thing Paul [Nicholls, Frodon’s trainer] said to me last year was he wishes the crowd was there,” Frost says, “as a King George crowd is phenomenal on Boxing Day. “The public in racing are awesome when they start getting behind certain individuals and athletes. It is really cool to be one of those pairs that people look forward to seeing, and appreciating you as much as I appreciate him. I’m very lucky to have him. “People love his characteristics, his running style, his jumping. When I met him he was a very good handicapper and now he has progressed to be one of the most talked about horses. For me, I’m very proud of that.” There are no secrets with Frodon, who will set out to dominate the nine-strong field from the front as he did last year. “It was probably one of the most effortless and smoothest races I’ve had with him,” Frost says. “Nothing went wrong, it was all so smooth. “It was just a moment where you almost felt like you had stopped in time. It was like we were in the breeze just galloping along around Kempton. There were no moments where you thought, ‘that was close’ or ‘I’m not sure about this bit’. We had a rhythm and he really jumped for fun. “I remember landing over the last thinking, ‘I can’t believe I’m still in front’. Looking up at the screen and bursting through the line was just a phenomenal feeling. “If Frodon was a boxer he would already have a load of belts standing behind him in the ring when he starts parading. You just focus on the job you have to do. I know his pace and his sections. He knows me and he knows the track and he comes alive on the big days.”