Nicholls and Frost left disappointed as low sun hinders Frodon's Old Roan bid

Bryony Frost was left 'very disappointed' after low sun spoiled Frodon's comeback at Aintree on Sunday.

Trainer Paul Nicholls was just as upset after watching last season's Ryanair Chase winner be outpaced by Forest Bihan after the three fences in the home straight were omitted in the Grade 2 Virgin Bet Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase.

"That was Frodon's advantage gone as late on his jumping keeps him in his races," he said. "He was not going to win when they took out those six fences [in total]."

After coming home third, Frost said: "It's very disappointing that we're in a jumps game and six fences were taken out, when your horse's heart come alive.

"He was extremely confused when I pulled him away from the fences, he was pulling me back in."

The first big chasing confrontation of the autumn turned instead into a test of Flat speed as Frodon and fellow Grade 1 winner Kalashnikov were beaten by Forest Bihan, a horse with the pace to have won a jumpers bumper and quick enough to be useful on the level according to trainer Brian Ellison.

Forest Of Bihan has too much speed for them on the long run-inCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Frodon, whose zestful attacking style at the fences and never-say die attitude in a battle earned him so many admirers in a 2018-19 campaign that began with victory here 12 months earlier, was eased once clearly losing the unequal struggle in the straight.

"The people above me, the stewards and the safety people, said the shadow was too strong on the fence," Frost said. "But I looked after him once I got swallowed and he feels good."

Nicholls watched the Betfair Chase hope's defeat from Wincanton and added: "It's not sour grapes about them leaving out fences as it ruins some of these big races. It never happened when I was riding.

"It was still a good prep for Haydock and when they went past her Bryony looked after him - he was never going to beat them with their Flat speed."

Amy Murphy also felt taking the fences out counted against runner-up Kalashnikov, a Grade 1 winner in novice company over this course and distance last April.

"He's not a Flat horse at all," the trainer said. "He's an out-and-out galloper - he's been outspeeded by the winner. Taking the jumps out probably doesn't help us.

"But I'm very happy with how he ran, that will put him 100 per cent for the rest of the season."

Ellison was happy to see Forest Bihan clinch the deal, after several previous near misses, and said: "He should have won races in the past and we always thought he wasn't going to go by.

"I took the cheekpieces off as I didn't think they were helping him at all, they were making him keen, and today he has done the job well. I think fitness helped, we'd had a run and the other two horses hadn't and that helped in that ground."

But Ellison admitted that the omitted fences played into his hands and added: "I was walking up the stairs and when they said the fences were being missed up the straight I said 'this can't get beat'. I know he's quick. If I ran him on the Flat he'd be a 100-rated horse, he's very classy."

Winning jockey Brian Hughes defended the decision not to jump the last three fences and said: "I rode in this race last year and my horse made a mistake because of the low sun and he hasn't run since.

"It's a safety thing. At the end of the day welfare is paramount. Some of the jockeys riding in the other races were thinking of it and the safety officer had a look at it with the stewards and made the right decision."

Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch said: "It had been cloudy in all the races up to it and the sun has come up and lined up with the back of the fences.

"It's not a decision we like to take but Sean Quinlan, who's the safety officer, said he wasn't confident and safety is paramount."

The omitted fences were all reinstated in the following novice handicap chase and, asked whether the Old Roan could have been run at a time when low sun was less likely to be a problem, Tulloch said: "I wish it was that simple. You don't know what time of day the cloud cover is going to come in.

"We look at everything but it is never that straightforward because you have to wait to see how the sun is, how bright it is - it had just moved round a bit for the next race half an hour later and they were happy to jump them."

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app