Frodon and Bryony Frost seal surprise win in King George VI Chase

20-1 underdog stunned stablemates Clan Des Obeaux, Cyrname and Real Steel to bounce back from a nightmare outing at Aintree

Graham Clark
Saturday 26 December 2020 16:09 GMT
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Frodon clears a fence on his way to victory with Bryony Frost in the King George VI Chase at Kempton
Frodon clears a fence on his way to victory with Bryony Frost in the King George VI Chase at Kempton (PA)

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Frodon and Bryony Frost sprang a 20-1 shock to win the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

Frodon, previously successful under Frost at this Grade One level when they won the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last year, was delivering a 12th victory in the Boxing Day showpiece for trainer Paul Nicholls.

To do so, they had to see off three better-fancied stablemates in Clan Des Obeaux - seeking his King George hat-trick - Cyrname and Real Steel.

Frost dictated a steady pace throughout - and as her rivals dropped away one by one, they repelled the field from the front to win by two and a quarter lengths and six lengths from Waiting Patiently and 85-40 favourite Clan Des Obeaux.

Frost and Frodon had been beaten by more than 80 lengths in their last race at the start of this month - when, to the brilliant jumper's detriment, several fences were omitted because of a low sun at Aintree.

The eight-year-old was back in his element here, however - and so too Frost.

On pulling up, she told ITV Racing: "We've just won the King George!

"I have had the absolute best time going round there on him.

"The dark days, the hard words you get thrown at you, to gallop round there with him - he has just smashed everybody's expectations.

"He's gone round a track that's the wrong way for him, always giving away ground a little bit at his fences.

"I got some amazing jumps from him. He's what you dream of as a little girl - absolutely epic."

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PA

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