Bryony Frost thrills local crowd on Grand National hope Present Man

“She’s so good,” was the oft-repeated refrain as Bryony Frost thrilled at her local track with a fine, attacking ride on the game Present Man to win the Badger Ales Trophy for a second time. There was a lot of love from this knowledgeable crowd for the horse, for his owner, Mark Woodhouse, whose company has sponsored this race for half a century, and for the trainer, Paul Nicholls, who won five of the seven races, but the loudest cheers were once more for Frost.

Although she had won a Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Frost had a low profile when she lined up for this race a year ago. Five minutes later, that had changed and her poised, straight-back style is now a familiar feature of most major races over fences.

This was a front-running success but it was no brainless charge from the outset. Frost could be seen allowing her mount to fill up his lungs at intervals and avoided being drawn into what could have been an expensive battle with the outsider On Demand, who led for some of the way before fading into seventh.

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When Frost sent Present Man for home three out, their rivals were immediately in trouble and there was a throaty roar from the stands as the 5-1 joint-favourite met the second-last on a long stride and bounded over it. Only Sumkindofking sustained a challenge beyond the last fence and he was well held by the line.

“He was the one who started a ball rolling through last season, that I would never have believed could happen,” Frost enthused of her mount. “Just look at him, the size of him ... They’ve got him here in 100% heart and he’s a complete athlete. The way he attacks his fences, it’s a pleasure to be on him.”

This, all parties agreed, was Present Man’s big day for the season. The question now is whether there might be another big day at Aintree in April; the trainer is inclined to think so. “It might be worth keeping him really fresh and going for the National,” Nicholls said. “I think the time’s ready to think about it.”

The idea of Present Man and Frost tilting at the famous green fences could keep anyone warm through the winter but Nicholls will have to persuade Woodhouse, who is not convinced his horse would have a winning chance in the National. Understandably, the owner’s great hope is for an unprecedented hat-trick of wins next year.

Nicky Henderson was one of two other trainers who managed to get a look-in on this card, landing the Elite Hurdle with Verdana Blue. She is another for whom this might have been the big day of the season; next Saturday’s Greatwood at Cheltenham may come too soon, the Mares Hurdle in March may be half a mile too long and races in between are likely to be run on ground that will be too soft.

In Ireland, Footpad suffered an over-reach on his way falling at the final fence at Naas on his first outing of the season. Willie Mullins hopes the injury will not prove of lasting significance. In the meantime, his Arkle winner was eased from 4-1 to 5s for the Champion Chase.