Nicholls and Frost chasing big race doubles at Dublin Racing Festival
- Planet Sport writer
- 31 January 2022
Trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Bryony Frost launch a dual assault on Ireland this weekend as Frodon and Greaneteen cross the Irish Sea bound for Leopardstown.
Nicholls thinks the better ground at the Dublin track will be ideal for both charges, having decided against running Clan Des Obeaux in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at the same meeting.
Triple Grade 1 winner Frodon could take on 2021 Irish Gold Cup winner Kemboy, while dual Grade 1 scorer Greaneteen is set for a mouthwatering clash with Chacun Pour Soi.
"Clan is not going, he is going to wait for the Denman Chase. Frodon is going to go and Greaneteen will run in the two-mile chase, so two of them are going out there," Nicholls told Betfair.
While Frodon has made the running in plenty of races in past, Nicholls does not think he needs to make all, especially after a battle for the early lead with Minella Indo in the King George at Kempton took its toll.
"Everyone knows the way he runs, but he doesn't have to. He won't be getting in a fight like he has been of late - it was ridiculous what happened last time," said Nicholls.
"Bryony can ride him how she feels. It's a big, galloping track which is more suitable for him and it will be better ground. We'll see what happens on the day.
"If you're making it you've got to go a sensible pace, not too quick like the two of them did at Kempton over the first half-mile."
Greaneteen looked very good in the Tingle Creek, in which Chacun Pour Soi disappointed, but proved no match for Shishkin at Kempton over Christmas.
"He was good in the Tingle Creek and then we probably ran him back too quick at Kempton, but we didn't think Shishkin was going to turn up and then he did but we decided to have a go," said the champion trainer.
"He ran OK, the ground went a bit soft and he will like the better ground and he'll like the track.
The eight-year-old's two Grade 1 successes have come at Sandown, having preceded his Tingle Creek win by landing the Celebration Chase there last April.
Although the predominance of his wins have been right-handed, he has scored twice on left-handed tracks and the galloping nature of Leopardstown should suit.
