IT took a stewards’ intervention to deny Paul Nicholls a graded hat-trick on the final day of the British jumps season at Sandown last Saturday, but the champion trainer still ended the season on a high with wins for Frodon (154) and Greaneteen (168), the latter proving a revelation in the Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase.

All the focus prior to the race was on the returning Altior (164) who, wearing cheekpieces for the first time, responded to an aggressive ride from Nico de Boinville from the front. However, any suspicion that Altior was handed his early lead can be dispelled by comparing the early stages of the race to Frodon through the same section.