Paisley Park and Frodon make a strong case for the Festival

By Steve Smith
Published 28th Jan 2019, 10:34 BST
Updated 7th Feb 2019, 18:24 BST
Frodon and Bryony Frost on their way to victory at Cheltenham NNL-190128-111643002Frodon and Bryony Frost on their way to victory at Cheltenham NNL-190128-111643002
Frodon and Bryony Frost on their way to victory at Cheltenham NNL-190128-111643002
Paisley Park and Frodon ran out impressive winners at Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday.

It was the last meeting at Prestbury Park before the before The Festival™ presented by Magners in March.

Paisley Park, the impressive winner of the Grade 2 galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle, is the new favourite for the Grade 1 Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle. Frodon, victorious under Bryony Frost in the feature Grade 2 BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase, is on target for the Grade Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

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Paisley Park confirmed himself as the leading British-trained contender for the Grade 1 Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle as he routed the opposition to record a fourth victory in as many starts this season. The seven-year-old also provided trainer Emma Lavelle with a first Grade 1 win when taking the JLT Hurdle at Ascot in December.

Frodon recorded a fourth victory at Cheltenham with another tremendous front-running performance to set up a tilt at the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old was stepping up in distance after taking the Grade 3 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase over an extended two and a half miles for the second time at The International in December.

It was a fifth victory for Nicholls in the BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase, with the ten-time champion jump trainer having also saddled See More Business twice, Taranis and Neptune Collonges to victory.