Frodon (9/2) and Bryony Frost gave weight and a sound beating to their nine rivals in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Chase.
The eight-year-old was winning his sixth race at Cheltenham and made light of 11st 12lb to lead the field a merry dance.
Going to the second last he had beaten off all bar the strong travelling West Approach (15/2) who for a stride or two threatened to play the role of party pooper.
But Frodon was brilliant again at the last and wasn't going to be beaten from that point, hitting the line a length-and-a-half ahead of his rival with Cloth Cap (13/2) back in third.
A jubilant Frost said: “Weight stops trains, that was about the only thing that was going to stop us today “But his class pushed that worry to the side. The jumps he did out there were unbelievable – he really is just magic to be with. He’s done it perfectly.
“He knows every blade of grass, every fence, out there.”
Winning trainer Paul Nicholls was equally delighted, saying: “That was an amazing performance. I thought he would probably need the run a little bit. I was going to go for the Charlie Hall next weekend, but changed plans a fraction as Cyrname is going there and he loves Cheltenham – but I thought he had it all to do with that weight.
"That’s nearly a career best. Off 164 in a handicap, giving weight to those horses over that trip.
“In last season’s Ryanair he was totally outpaced, but that trip (three miles and a furlong) suits him better now. You can sit and save a bit out in front, and you could see that’s what (Frost) was doing.
“You have to be very fit to do that first time up with that sort of weight and I was surprised how fit he was.”
🏇 Frodon, Frost, and a fabulous fillip for Cheltenham and National Hunt racingpic.twitter.com/pCjWedlA4L
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 24, 2020
Nicholls will now map out a route back to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup in March, with Sky Bet, Betfair and Paddy Power all quoting Frodon at 25/1.
"Paul (Vogt, owner) said earlier in the week he would love him to run in the Gold Cup and that will be his aim. I said you would have to win on Saturday with that weight, then he will be right in the picture. That has put him on the fringe of it," the trainer added.
“He loves it here. I’m not going to say he will win the Gold Cup, but he always runs well around here and he deserves his place in it. We will work back from there.
“We will run in something like the Cotswold Chase after Christmas. Handicaps will be out after that performance.”
