Thursday’s Ryanair Chase looks brilliant, with so many holding live chances.
The first and easiest to rule out on price grounds would be last year’s Arkle winner Footpad, who has been poor this season and has no right to be favourite for this race.
His stablemate Un De Sceaux is surely too old and wasn’t good enough last year on soft ground he should have loved, so he’s easily ruled out too.
Last year’s renewal looks nowhere near as deep as this, and last year’s winner, Balko De Flos, has been very poor since so is hard to fancy even at insulting odds of 20/1.
I have this between Monalee, Road To Respect and crowd favourite FRODON, who has come of age this season by winning the Cotswold Chase and Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.
He has previously been found wanting in Grade 1 company but he’s just a seven-year-old, and his improvement this season makes perfect sense when you consider most staying chasers peak around eight.
He’s got pace, jumps absolutely brilliantly and loves Cheltenham’s New Course, so he’s sure to give a good run for your money at 15/2 and should not be underestimated.
I suspect Road To Respect has Monalee covered, so he’d be the second pick if you wanted two in the race.
1pt win Frodon @15/2, 14:50 Cheltenham, Thursday
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