Kingofthefrontier shocks at 20-1 to take Grade Two Sharp Novices' Hurdle on Cheltenham return
On the opening day of Cheltenham’s new season on Friday, Kingofthefrontier, a 20-1 outsider trained by John Dawson, won the Grade Two Sharp Novices’ Hurdle, beating Nicky Henderson’s Planters Punch by two-and-a-quarter lengths with Dan Skelton’s 13-8 favourite Cooltobecareless only third.
The meeting was the first at Cheltenham since Gold Cup day in March and provided an early reminder that underdogs can prevail in the jumps game, even as training dominance has grown more concentrated. Dan Skelton, who dethroned Willie Mullins as champion jumps trainer last season, had already trained 115 winners in the current campaign before racing on Friday, approaching Martin Pipe’s all-time record of 243, while Dawson had sent out just six winners from his North Yorkshire yard since May 2023 and had only run three horses at Cheltenham as a trainer.
Kingofthefrontier was nearer last than first turning in but produced a decisive late acceleration to prevail by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Planters Punch, with Cooltobecareless finishing third. The winner’s performance under jockey Conor O’Farrell overcame in-race balance issues noted by the trainer and produced Dawson’s first Cheltenham winner as a trainer, a moment he described as even better than riding into the winner’s enclosure aboard Sine Nomine after the Hunters’ Chase at the festival meeting in March 2024.
Dawson spoke of his long-term belief in the horse, saying: "We’ve always loved him since the word go. I just felt we had a horse to come and have a go with. He’s still got a lot to learn and the way he went through the race, Conor [O’Farrell, his jockey] said he was a bit stumbly and he had to balance him a couple of times. But speed wasn’t a problem for me, he was always going to have enough boot to get there, and he picked up really well." He added: "He’s actually a little bit horse-shy and when that big horse of Dan Skelton’s came running towards him, I think he was edging away from him, but he’ll learn a lot from that and he could still be anything."
Dawson confirmed the connections chose the Grade Two feature at Cheltenham over a novice handicap hurdle at Carlisle, saying: "He’d never disappointed us. George puts a lot into the game, I wanted to bring him here and I thought he had a horse good enough to do it. I just can’t believe it came off. We’re ambitious [but] we only want the horses to have a go with and hopefully we’ve showcased ourselves [today] to do that. I don’t want to be a massive Dan Skelton in numbers, but I just want real quality." Owner George Critchley was referenced by Dawson as an active supporter of the decision to run on Friday.
Irish stables featured across the rest of the card, with Gordon Elliott eyeing a possible step up for Bowensonfire into the Grand Annual Handicap Chase after the six-year-old won the card’s two-mile novice chase. Bowensonfire’s success formed the first leg of a double for Elliott, who later trained Cosmos D’Ainay to take a novice hurdle on the same card, while Cian Collins sent out a third winner for Ireland when Brandt, at 10-1, won the final race of the day.
Attention now shifts to Saturday’s big cards, where Aidan O’Brien and Andrew Balding each field four of the seven runners in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, the final Group One of the British season, and Breacher (1.30) is highlighted as an improving contender on ground expected to suit. The preview lists betting notes and selections for several races, including Doncaster 12.55 Ancient State, 1.30 Breacher (nap), 2.05 Bengal Tiger, 2.40 National Honour and others, alongside Cheltenham tips such as 1.10 As Legends Have It (nb), 1.45 Road To Wembley and 2.20 Idaho Fire.
Saturday’s programme therefore offers confirmed Group One and notable graded-race targets at Doncaster and Cheltenham, with the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster named as the final Group One of the British season and several horses and trainers highlighted for specific entries and form lines heading into that card.