- Quote: ‘What a horse – we got him really ready – I’m delighted he’s won’ Paul Nichols
By Andrew Atkinson
Paul Nichols trained Frodon (3-1) landed the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday under jockey Bryony Frost.
“What a horse – we got him really ready today and I’m delighted he’s won,” said jubilant Nichols, after Frodon notched up an 18th career win from 40 races.
King George VI Chase ace Frodon pulled out all the stops to hold off Galvin and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo.
“That was tough – he was having a good look around out there, the way they came to us at two out.
“I’ve always said that his determination is infectious and that you can believe that you can beat anyone, but you really can because he believes he can. It’s unbelievable!,” said Frost.
“When you think you’re beat, the world swallows you up, you feel you have done all you can. Have I gone too hard on him? Has he any legs left? And he answers you, because he wants to, he wants to win,” said Frost.
“That’s 18 races he has won – phenomenal. It’s testimony to Paul. To have a horse like this come out every season, with the same enthusiasm again and again, is exactly what he is the master of,” she added.
“He contains their enthusiasm, he makes them bubble at home and brings them to the track feeling a million dollars and they can over-achieve every single time.
“It’s so cool to be a jockey to add to his record in this race – you need an honest horse out there.
“The ground was a bit tacky and it took me until halfway round to realise I should sit still and let him do his jumping for himself. We knew he was 110 per cent fit,” said Frost.
Caption: Bryony Frost: So cool to be a jockey to add to Frodon’s record.
