Frodon and Frost triumph again with gutsy Sandown success

There were only four runners, but Frodon had to pull out all the stops to deny Mister Fisher in an entertaining Grade 2 Oaksey Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

The King George winner, having his first run since not quite getting home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, went from the front as he is accustomed to under Bryony Frost, but was met with a stiff challenge from Mister Fisher up the Sandown straight.

Mister Fisher hit 1.04 in running for £1,519 on the Betfair Exchange (the winner hit a high of 28) and headed Frodon jumping the last, but Frodon was all heart and rallied under Frost to prevail by a neck.

It was a finish that would undoubtedly have brought the house down at the Esher course had spectators been permitted at the season-ending card, and was a fitting winner for Paul Nicholls on the day he was officially crowned champion trainer for the 12th time.

Nicholls, who pinpointed a defence of his King George crown and a possible trip to Ireland for the Dublin Racing Festival as targets for next season for Frodon, said: “He’s an amazing horse, it’s been a real challenge getting him ready for today. He was obviously pretty exhausted after Cheltenham. He probably had as hard a race as anything did at Cheltenham.

"But we got him back and Bryony said he’s a little bit flat there, a little bit flat out, probably three miles suits him a little bit better than two miles and six, but he’s tough and classy. He battled really strongly from the back of the last and he obviously stays so well, he just got himself back up on the line.

“It’s nice to win a nice race at the end of the season.”

Frost, who has partnered Frodon to nine of his 17 wins, said: "This horse is somebody else, isn't he? What an amazing athlete he is.

"He might not be the best and he might not be unbeatable but you have to admire his bravery and enthusiasm.

"My question was, would he enjoy letting himself down on this ground, but Sandown have done a great job to make it safe.

"What a battle! Mister Fisher was all over us but this lad won't go down without a fight. When you have a partner like that it makes you as brave as a lion."

Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power left Frodon unchanged at 16-1 for the King George VI Chase next season.

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