Frodon and Bryony Frost sprang a 20/1 shock to win the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

Frodon, previously successful under Frost at this Grade 1 level when they won the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last year, was delivering a 12th victory in the race for trainer Paul Nicholls.

To do so, they had to see off three better-fancied stablemates in Clan Des Obeaux – seeking his King George hat-trick – Cyrname and Real Steel.

Frost dictated a steady pace throughout – and as her rivals dropped away one by one, they repelled the field from the front to win by two and a quarter lengths and six lengths from Waiting Patiently and 85/40 favourite Clan Des Obeaux. Saint Calvados ran a big race before fading in the closing stages to finish fourth.

Cyrname could never get near the front and was pulled up, as was Lostintranslation who was never going well under Robbie Power.

A thrilled Bryony Frost told ITV Racing: "I have had the absolute best time going round there on him. The dark days, the hard words you get thrown at you, to gallop round there with him — he has just smashed everybody’s expectations.

“He’s gone round a track that’s the wrong way for him, always giving away ground a little bit at his fences. I got some amazing jumps from him. He’s what you dream of as a little girl — absolutely epic.”

Paul Nicholls added: "I didn't really expect that and none of us did, but it worked. I said to Bryony just go as quick as you can and keep galloping and hang on in there, we know he's tough and brave.

"He took the mickey out of us at Aintree with the lack of fences and came back really fresh. I've done some serious work with him the last three weeks and he probably didn't know what hit him – he thrives on it.

"She went out to ride him like the best horse and if one gallops past you, they will and so be it. His run earlier in the season at Cheltenham was a hell of a run. That was out of the top drawer. What a remarkable horse he is."