an appeal to paul nicholls.

​It was the choice of the headline writer at the Racing Post to suggest that where Frodon was concerned ‘All Options Are Open’, and I dare say it is not his job (a woman would have read the piece before deciding on the headline) to actually read what came after the headline. Because if you read Paul Nicholl’s comments it is clear that the Ryanair remains his preferred option for Frodon and that all this talk of going for the Gold Cup is nought but a distraction.
Now, when it comes to making correct decisions Paul Nicholls has a lead over me that if I was a horse in a horse race the jockey would be compelled to pull me up. He is nearly a genius (the word genius is so overworked these days that the accolade that accompanies it is almost meaningless) whilst I am according to the evidence a right numpty. I did, though, in defence of myself, tip Clan des Obeaux to win the King George, when Paul Nicholls nailed his colours to Cyrname. So that’s one for me, at least.
But to return to Frodon. I may be in a majority of one but I think, at Cheltenham at least, there is every chance Frodon will stay the 3-mile 2-furlongs, if the ground is anywhere close to good. On soft ground I might revise my opinion, not because he doesn’t act on it, he does, but it could nullify his greatest asset, his exuberant jumping. Did you see him at Kempton at the fence opposite where the camera was sited? He spots the wings of the fence, drops his head, measures his stride and accelerates into it with the alacrity I display when going to the fridge. One of the greatest thrills in all sport is to see a horse enjoying the task.
My arguments for having a crack at the Gold Cup are thus: his owner is not getting any younger and if he craves a runner in the Gold Cup surely it has to be sooner rather than later and it must be with Frodon as he is highly unlikely to own a better horse. Least ways, he hasn’t in fifty years of owning racehorses.
Although it is unarguable that there are half-a-dozen horses in the Gold Cup that on ratings are better than Frodon, not all of them, though, are thorough stayers, some of which have failed in years past to get up the Cheltenham hill. Of course, Frodon might also crumble up that unforgiving climb to the winning post but as yet the hill has not beaten him. The top Gold Cup horses also keep beating each other, with very few of them with impressive numbers after their names on race-cards. With hand on heart can anyone say that Al Boum Photo, as impressive as he was last year, has the make and look of a serial Gold Cup winner? He has won his Gold Cup, now it is the turn of another horse.
At Haydock, and I am pleased that Paul Nicholl’s has admitted to getting the tactics wrong, it appeared as if Frodon didn’t stay, yet he has won over very nearly the Gold Cup distance at Cheltenham – the Cotswold Chase – out-staying genuine stayers. Frodon is a terrier in equine form. If he stays, he stays, if he doesn’t there is not a tactic devised that will help him. Jump off handy, let his jumping get him to the head of affairs and never give back the lengths he gains at his obstacles. At Cheltenham it is possible to give a horse a breather before filling their lungs for the homeward climb. If Frodon doesn’t stay 3-miles plus, then all I can say, to paraphrase David Elsworth, is that he stayed it better than those who finished behind him in the Cotswold Chase.
Also, it’s not as if the Ryanair would be a cakewalk for him. He’s not even the ante-post favourite. And the race will be there for him next season if everyone is right and he doesn’t stay the Gold Cup distance. Not that I can understand everyone’s certainty on the matter. As the form-book proves, there is a win over very nearly the Gold Cup distance, at Cheltenham, to suggest it is a very good possibility he will last home up the hill.
And having referenced David Elsworth: he alone thought Desert Orchid would stay 3-miles. He alone thought he would stay 3-miles 2-furlongs in heavy ground, and possibly he alone thought he would win an Irish National under top-weight. Very few thought Crisp could carry 12-stone to victory in the Grand National. He didn’t, obviously, though not even Arkle could have given all that weight to Red Rum at Aintree.
Finally, when trainers make such decisions, I believe they have a responsibility to the sport as well as to the horse and its owner. The Cheltenham Gold Cup can only gain in marketing and publicity if Frodon and Bryony Frost were in the line-up. In winning the Ryanair, a race no one outside of the sport has heard of, she was on the front page of the Times. Imagine the ballyhoo if Frodon actually won the Cheltenham Gold Cup!