Nicholls To Send Three Into King George On Boxing Day

Paul Nicholls has decided to send three runners into the Boxing Day feature race at Kempton over the Christmas period with Frodon now being strongly favoured to team up up dual winner Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname.

Frodon has been a superstar of for the 11 time champion trainer Paul Nicholls winning some huge races including the Old Roan Chase at Aintree and the Ryanair Chase at the 2019 Cheltenham festival.

He seems to produce his best runs at Cheltenham during his career, but going from the front under his best friend Bryony Frost he is a very hard horse to dismiss in any race.

Stepped up to 3 miles 1 furlong in October the gelding landed the competitive Handicap Chase off top weight at Prestbury Park on seasonal debut producing a superb round off jumping whilst giving weight away to the whole field.

Last time out he was stepped up in class off the back of his strong performance at Cheltenham and it did not go to plan with only five running in the Many Clouds Chase and six fences being missed during the race due to low sun.

One of the main strengths of the gelding is his jumping and when these fences were taken out of the race it saw him fade dramatically.

However, Nicholls is looking for his Cheltenham festival winner to put that behind him and give another bold showing when he steps into Grade One company for the King George VI Chase.

(Credit ATR) Nicholls said: “It was almost a waste of time going to Aintree as the same thing happened there last season in the Old Roan with the fences in the home straight taken out.

“He will run in the King George I would imagine next, as the owner is keen to have a go there.

“He took the race fine at Aintree fine, but he just threw his toys out of the pram when he got headed. It doesn’t suit him when those fences come out.

“I should have phoned up and said take him out as taking fences out for a horse like him that jumps well doesn’t help.”