BHA take whip hand to jockeys
Running into a vicious wind and freezing rain at Cheltenham, the Paul Nicholls six-year-old shrugged aside top weight of 11st 12lb to make most of the running and beat Cepage by a length and a half.
Frost, who had been on board when Frodon chased home Baron Alco in the Betvictor Gold Cup at the home of jump racing four weeks earlier, beamed: “That was epic – awesome – especially with that weight, and the weather out there. First time up the home straight, there was a big gust of wind and it blew poor Frodes sideways and he nearly got blown away.
“I was like, ‘You’ve got to face it, mate – come on!’ So he stuck his ears down and stuck his head out and he said, ‘Alright, I’ll take it on!’
“He’s the epitome of bravery. He loves being a racehorse, and he loves winning,” added the 23-year-old, who lost her right to draw on a 3lb allowance when landing her 75th success at Kempton last month.
The winner’s days in handicaps – he was conceding 12lb and more to his 11 opponents – are now behind him, with Nicholls keen to target the top chases in the second half of the season.
“We’re just going to have to go Grade 1s with him now,” said the 10-time champion trainer.
“We’ll probably aim for the Ascot Chase [at Ascot on 16 February] and then his No.1 target will be the Ryanair [Chase at Cheltenham on 14 March].
“He’s got some engine. To go that gallop, carry 11st 12lb and jump like that – just astonishing.”
The New One brought the curtain down on a career yielding 20 victories from 40 starts when his search for a fourth win in the Unibet International Hurdle ended in defeat.
As the 10-year-old made his valedictory parade after pulling up behind Brain Power, The New One’s emotional trainer Nigel Twiston-davies said: “I’m absolutely gutted.
“Where do I find another one like him from?“it’s a very, very sad day.“ THE spotlight is to be turned on jockeys who break the whip rules in big races by the British Horseracing Authority next month.
The BHA, which has published its review into the death of six horses at the Cheltenham Festival last March, is to ramp up its punishments on riders who transgress.
They said: “The BHA stated in March that we would be looking at penalties for whip offences to ensure they present a sufficient deterrent, especially in higher-profile races.
“Now that the Cheltenham review has been published we are in a position to consider how to progress this issue.
“The process will start in January. Before any final decisions are made, a full and proper process will be followed.”