Jockey Bryony Frost was full of praise for Frodon as the duo combined to win the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday afternoon. 

Fans packed into the stands at the Irish track for the first Grade One Chase of the new National Hunt season, and the five-runner field delivered the goods in a thrilling battle. 

Gold Cup winner Minella Indo went into the race as the 5/4 favourite, with Frodon and Galvin both priced at 3/1. 

Delta Work and Ravenhill were outsiders at odds of 11/2 and 125/1, respectively, but the contest ended up being a two-horse battle. 

As usual, Frodon led from the front and put in some fearless jumping, but Rachael Blackmore, onboard Minella Indo, refused to give him too much space. 

With five fences still to jump, Frodon's advantage was reduced as the chasing pack made their move in front of the grandstand. 

Minella Indo soon faded away though, leaving Galvin and Frodon to fight it out at the front of the field. 

Galvin's jump at the last handed him the lead but Frost got an extra tune out of Frodon to record a famous win by three-quarters of a length. 

Frost recorded her first win in Ireland as a professional jockey, and she says Frodon's lastest success was one of the highlights of her career. 

She told RacingTV: "What more can you say about him? That was tough. The uncertainty of where we were going out there, and he was having a good look around. 

"I always preach about his determination and that it is infectious and that you can beat anyone when you are on him, but you really can because he believes he can. 

"What is that 18 races he has won in his lifetime? It's just phenomenal. Testimony to Paul (Nicholls) to have a horse coming out every season, again and again, with the same enthusiasm. It is exactly what he is a master of. 

"I felt my asset is my jumping (though), and I knew I was 110 per cent fit. I had done a good piece of work on him, and Holly, who rides him every day, says he is a million dollars, so I had to believe in him. 

"Doesn't he just improve every time?" 

Later in the day at Down Royal, Envoi Allen recorded his first victory for trainer Henry de Bromhead. 

Blackmore guided Gordon Elliott's former charge home in the Grade 2 Join Racing TV Chase. 

Envoi Allen had failed to finish his last two races, but he looked back to his best at Down Royal. 

The seven-year-old finished 22 lengths clear of Echoes Of Family, while Fairyhill Run claimed third place. 

De Bromhead is now pondering Envoi Allen's next outing, with the Irish handler having the luxury of several options. 

He told the Racing Post: "He's class. He's the most spoken about horse in the country. He's exciting, and we're very lucky to have him. There's every chance he could run in the John Durkan Chase. He's a horse with a lot of pace. We've not discussed anything with the owners, but we could possibly look at the option of the King George VI Chase at Kempton."