Have faith in Frodon
FRODON has already won two valuable handicap chases in 2018 off top weight and can enhance that record by adding the BetVictor Gold Cup to his CV at Cheltenham this afternoon.
Indeed, at the anticipated odds of 20-1, Frodon (2.25, nap) looks a tremendous value bet.
Much has been made of the fact that regular partner Bryony Frost no longer claims an allowance, but an alternative take would be that the rider clearly has a successful rapport with the Paul Nichollstrained runner, which must be worth a few pounds in weight.
After winning the similar Crest Nicholson Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in January, Frodon’s form tailed off a little – including when fifth in the Ryanair Chase at the Festival – but a close-season wind operation seems to have arrested the slide on the evidence of his fine comeback victory the Old Roan Chase at Aintree.
Cotswolds trainer Tom George and jockey Paddy Brennan made a flying start to the three-day Cheltenham programme yesterday and they look the combination in to beat with Boyhood (3.00) in the Listed handicap hurdle over three miles.
Boyhood is a course and distance winner already and with only seven races over hurdles behind him has scope for more improvement.
George could have something of a stellar afternoon as he has two further strong candidates on the card in The Worlds End (1.15) and Singlefarmpayment (1.50).
The Worlds End deserves to head the market at odds-on given that he is a Grade One-winning hurdler (Sefton Novices’ at Aintree) and jumped well for a smooth 14-length debut victory over fences at Chepstow,
Jumping can be an issue for Singlefarmpayment, although he generally runs up to his form when completing and he was a little unlucky to go through last season without a success, two of his runnerup finishes coming at this track.
Irish champion Willie Mullins sends over just one runner on the card, Royal Illusion (4.00) in the mares’ bumper that closes the card. Say no more.