Congratulations to...
Frodon
The Paul Nicholls charge was rated in the low 160s in the 2017/18 season and had landed a decent prize in a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham on Trials Day. There was a disappointing end to the season for the horse though with big margin defeats at Ascot and twice at Cheltenham.
Wind surgery in the summer seemed to revitalise the horse and Frodon won the Old Roan Chase at Aintree under regular partner Bryony Frost before the competition started. Was this the run that enticed Cod to make Frodon a single pick?
The second day of the jumps competition saw Frodon go off at 16/1 for our first bonus race, the BetVictor Gold Cup. The horse jumped well but couldn't give a stone away to the winner Baron Alco and was a brave two-length second.
Frodon returned to Cheltenham in December for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. Top weight again and
7/1 fourth choice of the betting market Bryony got a fine tune out of the gelding and guided him to victory by one and a quarter lengths from Cepage.
With eyes starting to turn to the Festival Frodon had a date with Cheltenham Trials Day. Now rated 169 Frodon was a narrow second favourite at 9/4 behind Elegant Escape in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase. The two market leaders fought out the finish with Frodon coming out on top by three parts of a length..
With the Festival on the horizon Nicholls now had a decision to make. Would he send Frodon to the Gold Cup or was the shorter Ryanair to be the option? The Ryanair got the nod but this was not looking like a penalty kick. Frodon was one of five out of the 12 strong field that went off 5/1 or less. Irish raider Footpad was 7/2 fave, Frodon and Elegant Escape were 9/2 and two more from Ireland in Un De Sceaux and Monalee were at fives.
Frodon and Frost took up their usual place at the head of the race and led the field round until two out when 33/1 outsider Aso took up the running. Frodon wasn't to be denied and dug in to battle back, get up with 150 yards to go and go on to a one and a quarter length win - a first Grade One victory over obstacles for a female jockey at Cheltenham.
An emotional Frost gave her reaction straight after the race: "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!"
That was it for the season for Frodon - what will we see from the partnership when the competition comes round again?
The top three this season were:
279.0 - Frodon (24 + 90 + 80.4 + 84.6)
210.8 - Tiger Roll (71.2 + 54.2 + 85.4)
206.2 - Altior (51.5 + 26.1 + 51.1 + 51.4 + 26.1)
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