Frodon Moves to Graded Company in Cotswold Chase before Gold Cup Tilt

The Paul Nicholls trained Frodon will move into graded company for the first time when he runs in the Cotswold Chase at the end of the month at Cheltenham. This will be a big test for him, but with connections looking towards the Gold Cup in March back at the same venue, this is a test to see whether or not he deserves his place in the line up.

There is no doubt that this horse has the heart of a lion and he will give it his all in the race, although there is a good chance that he will come up just short. He has been an incredibly talented handicapper, carrying a lot of weight in some of the best handicap races we have, although that doesn’t always translate to turning into a graded competitior.

The horse is a shorter price for the Ryanair, which is over a distance of 2m5f and one that he has looked good at in the past. However, the race does not have anywhere near the same prestige as the Gold Cup, and that is making that race look very appealing to connections.

Whatever the horse does between now and the end of the season, and in other seasons to follow, he owes his connections nothing. They are entitled to have their shot at the big race with this horse, and we will see how worthy of a place he is at the end of this month in his trial.

It is likely he will come up just short of what is needed to win a Gold Cup, but there is no doubt that once again this horse will try his hardest and put everything on the line, and that is the reason we have all come to love this animal and what he brings to our sport.