Our man has three bets for Cheltenham on Saturday and is expecting Frodon to defy his big weight and make a winning reappearance.
Recommended bets:
1pt win Anna Bunina in 2.05 Cheltenham at 6/1
1pt win Champagne Court in 3.15 Cheltenham at 16/1
2pts win Frodon in 3.50 Cheltenham at 11/2
FRODON, one of the most popular jumping horses in training, returns to his favourite hunting ground at Cheltenham on Saturday, and is fancied to defy top weight in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Chase.
The 2019 Ryanair Chase hero had a quieter time last season and, while successful at Kempton over two-and-a-half miles in January, the impression was that he may have lost a bit of pace.
Only fourth to Min when bidding for a Ryanair double in March, Frodon now returns to handicap company off a mark 5lb below his peak and over an extended three miles, the trip he appeared to stay well when beating Elegant Escape in the Cotswold Chase here early last year.
Successful first time out in the 2018 Old Roan Chase (run at Aintree tomorrow) and hailing from a stable in superb form, Bryony Frost's mount has won four times in all on Cheltenham's New Course but looked equally at home over this Old Course when second under 11st12lb in the 2018 BetVictor Gold Cup.
In recent seasons, Frost and Frodon have proved a match made in racing heaven and, while he has to concede plenty of weight here, most of his rivals are out and out stayers who may find themselves outclassed.
Earlier, CHAMPAGNE COURT looks interesting upped to three miles in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.
Fourth in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (2m4f) at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, Jeremy Scott's seven-year-old won twice over fences last season and returns to the smaller obstacles off a mark 7lb below his chase rating following a wind operation.
Champagne Court ran well first time out last season when chasing home Flash The Steel at Chepstow and has always shaped as though he would stay further.
In the opening Masterson Holdings Hurdle, the Irish raider ANNA BUNINA appears well treated receiving weight all round.
A four-time winner for Jedd O'Keefe on the Flat, the daughter of Poet's Voice has been in excellent form for John McConnell recently winning at Cork and Sligo before chasing home Politicise (a winner on the Flat subsequently) in a handicap hurdle at Listowel where the pair finished well clear.
Given a rating of 137 by the English handicapper, Anna Bunina receives 15lb from the 146-rated favourite Allmankind and comes out best here on the weight-adjusted figures.
Preview posted 1550 on 23/10/2020