THE Paul Nicholls bandwagon rolled onto Wincanton on Saturday as Frodon and Knappers Hill formed the centrepiece of a fantastic four timer for the champion trainer.

Frodon (150+) added to the weight carrying performances of the weekend as even the welter burden of 12st could not stop the 10-year-old from recording the fastest time of the day over fences.

In the hands of regular partner Bryony Frost, the former King George winner assumed command negotiating the last fence with a circuit to run before his accurate jumping put his rivals under pressure.

However, the finishing touch was a solid closing sectional of 60.2secs from the fourth last fence which sealed victory as Lord Accord (148) threw down a determined challenge.

Don Alvaro (134+) surpassed the time achieved by Hang In There (128) in the Grade 2 chase, while also finishing off his race in swifter fashion.

The fledging chaser appreciated the drop in trip as he stopped the clock at 60.3secs for his finishing effort, compared to the 61.2secs taken by Emma Lavelle’s multiple winner.

The Elite Hurdle saw Knappers Hill (153+) transition from handicapper to graded performer as Harry Cobden repeated the Greaneteen tactics by making every yard of the running to beat last year’s winner Sceau Royal by two and a half lengths.

The supremacy of the time figure is clear to see in the comparison of overall race time against Hugos New Horse (110+), who was 8.6secs slower over the same distance.

The gap closed over the final circuit although the grade two winner was still 2.9secs quicker and was still moving faster at the finish judged by the closing sectional also being 0.3secs faster.

A further step up in grade could await the six-year-old as his trainer is eyeing the Fighting Fifth Hurdle as his next target.

Sceau Royal (151) was third in last year’s renewal of the Grade 1 at Newcastle when running to the same time figure as he achieved at Wincanton last Saturday.

Angle Land (75+), Chelmsford, Thursday, November 3rd: chased a furious pace and was unlucky to be overhauled late on by a more patiently ridden rival. Time figure excellent for the grade.

Datsalrightgino (141+), Chepstow, Wednesday, November 2nd: showed the benefit of his debut over fences to win convincingly. A combination of good ground and two miles can see him add to this success.

The Menstone Gem (96+), Newcastle, Tuesday, November 1st: started his winter campaign with victory and now boasts for figures of 2211 at Gosforth Park.