Triumph Hurdle Tips: Frodon

Paul Nicholls doesn’t have the stars of yesteryear and without the financial clout or owners to compete with Willie Mullins the Ditcheat trainer is focusing on bringing through the next generation.

Nicholls won the Fred Winter on Wednesday with Diego Du Charmil and it’s his younger horses like Baoulet Delaroque and Bouvreuil who are impressing at the Festival.

It therefore follows that he has five horses entered in the Triumph Hurdle and a case could be made for all of them. However, looking at the odds the best value is Frodon.

Highly tried in France, he impressed when third on his UK debut at Cheltenham. A steadily run affair (107% finishing speed) didn’t suit him and he was out-sprinted by Solstice Star; it was later reported he needed the run.

That assertion proved correct because on his subsequent start he won a nice race at Haydock. The four runners meant it was a tactical affair (117% finishing speed) but this time he had enough pace to win by 0.75 lengths, recording a sectional adjusted speed rating of 129.

I expect Frodon will be seen to better effect on quicker ground with a stronger pace to track (he travelled notably well at Cheltenham) both of which he will get in the Triumph Hurdle.

He is in the right hands and looks a useful prospect. At 20/1 he is a cracking bet and with Skybet we get up to £25 of our stake back as a free bet if he loses.

*Money back as horse lost.