Frost and Frodon taste Caviar victory

BRYONY Frost and Frodon served up another magical moment in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham yesterday.

The pair combined to land a similarly valuable prize at Prestbury Park in January and also won the Old Roan at Aintree in October.

They had to make do with minor honours when second in last month’s BetVictor Gold Cup, but went one better with a fine weight-carrying performance on a bitterly cold and wet afternoon in the Cotswolds.

Prominent throughout, the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old became just the second dual winner of this contest – along with a former Nicholls inmate in Poquelin – adding to his 2016 victory with a never-say-die front-running victory.

Cepage proved a willing rival, but Frodon saw him off by a length and a quarter.

Frost said: “He is the epitome of a brave racehorse. He wants to give everything for you. He is a big dude.

“The engine is still building underneath him. He is the complete warrior.”

Nicholls added: “I thought he went a bit quick for the first mile but he never stopped. I’m absolutely thrilled. The No 1 target is the Ryanair Chase and we will work back from that.”

Brain Power (7-1) could join stablemate and dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D’Air in the two-mile showpiece next March after successfully reverting to the smaller obstacles in the Grade Two Unibet International Hurdle.

The seven-year-old has never quite fulfilled expectations over fences, but showed his true colours back over timber under Nico De Boinville.

Trainer Nicky Henderson was keen to credit owner Michael Buckley, saying: “It was totally his idea to go hurdling. This horse has always had stacks of ability. It’s not that he’s ungenuine, he just doesn’t concentrate on what’s in front of him the whole time.

“I’d be pretty sure he will be running in it [Champion Hurdle].”

Following the race, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies announced the retirement of stable stalwart The New One after he was pulled in his bid for a fourth victory in the race.

Twiston-Davies said: “It is very emotional. Sam [Twiston-Davies] said when push come to shove he doesn’t have it in him any more. I’m absolutely gutted … where can I find another one like him? There have been lots of special moments and lots of disappointments as he should have won the Champion Hurdle but he didn’t. He has been the most wonderful horse.”