THE weather may be warming up, but there was still a touch of Frost at Sandown on Saturday.
Top jock Bryony Frost put the icing on a stellar season with a big-race double for champion trainer Paul Nicholls on Frodon and Greaneteen as the curtain came down on the 2020-21 campaign.
And her success comes just days after she was passed fit to ride by docs after a horror fall in the Grand National.
She suffered a concussion and was taken to Aintree Hospital having been kicked in the head after Yala Enki unseated her in the world-famous race.
The 26-year-old has been out of the saddle since, but was back in time to boot home a valuable 12.5/1 double.
She was at her strongest to lift her King George winner Frodon across the line in a thrilling finish to the Oaksey Chase, with Mister Fisher a close second.
But she was calm and collected when guiding Greaneteen to an impressive Grade 1 success in the Celebration Chase.
She produced him with a well-timed run up the inside of Altior – whose best days look behind him – and he galloped clear up the hill to win decisively.
She said: “Thank goodness I passed my tests and they gave me the green light to ride otherwise I would have missed these two.
“It was a horrible two weeks, I was stuck inside in a dark room looking out at the sunshine and wasn’t able to celebrate my birthday.
“The season has had its brilliant highs and serious lows, but I’ve ended up with 47 winners with is close to my best.
“Greaneteen is a speed machine. I thought Altior looked like he was on a going day and that he wouldn’t be coming back to us in a hurry.
“So I allowed the gap to reduce coming down the hill. I’m two from two on him now and he is a very exciting horse for next year.
“And what more can I say about Frodon. He is the definition of brave and the definition of determination.
“He is everything you want and, my God, as a partner out there, you just dream of horses like him.
“He’s had a long season and Paul’s done a fantastic job along with everyone at home to make sure he’s here and have enough energy levels to take this race on.”
There was controversy in the bet365 Gold Cup when Nicholls’ 7-2 favourite Enrilo was demoted to third having finished first past the post.
Potterman (12-1) was promoted to first while Kitty’s Light (9-1), who was badly hampered and looked the likeliest winner in the final 100 yards, was placed second.
The decision of the stewards robbed Harry Skelton of a big winner on the day he was crowned champ – but Nicholls is now considering whether or not to appeal the verdict.
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