Thursday 12th March

FRODON 5/1 generally – 1 POINT EACH WAY (3 places, 1/5 odds)

I really don’t understand how this horse is getting as much stick as he has been recently. I think he is a cracking price. The horse won this race last year and is as game as they come. He loves Cheltenham and everything about it. His form around Cheltenham is spectacular with his last 4 races at the course reading 2111.

You know what you are going to get with FRODON, he is going to bowl along at the front and jump fence to fence, they will all try to get to him and he will keep finding. For me he is the perfect horse at Cheltenham and is perfect for this race, as he will get that bit further.

I have done a bit of digging around on the times at last year’s festival between A Plus Tard, who I respect but the price is skinny. A Plus Tard won a Novice Handicap Chase at last year’s festival, with Rachael Blackmore carrying 11st 5lb, over 2m 4f, and he absolutely hosed home in a time of 5m 13s. Frodon ran and won this race last year over ½ f further, in a faster time of 5m 9s, with Bryony carrying 5lb more at 11st 10lb. The figures don’t lie and although A Plus Tard may have improved, nothing says that FRODON can’t improve. I can’t have Min at the price as I think he is a flat track horse.

One thing I know is if FRODON jumps the last neck and neck, I don’t think anything will get up the hill better.

His season has not been the greatest but he did win at Kempton on his last start. He has not run at Cheltenham this season so far, and like humans who have their favourite places, FRODON will think, I am back at my favourite place, let’s do this. E/W.

3:30 Stayers Hurdle

EMITOM 12/1 generally – 0.5 POINTS E/W

Paisley Park is going to be very hard to beat but we have seen three odds on favourites beat this week so it is shaping as one of those festivals.

I am going to take him on with EMITOM who improved for the step up to 3 miles last time out and is the improving type, being only a 6 year old. You still haven’t seen the best of the horse and he has bags of improvement to come. Trainer Warren Greatrex has always described this horse as special and he has the potential to be the next big thing. He was 2nd last year to Champ in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices Hurdle and after today with Champ winning the RSA, that form looks even more solid. He had his first start of the season at this course in the International in December. He looked to need that run badly and the trip was also on the short side. He was stepped up in trip on his last start for the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle and he won like a very nice horse. He is sure to come on for that run and his trainer has won this race in the past, so knows what it takes. At the price he is very good value. E/W.