I HOPE to be raising a toast to my old pal Frodon after the Badger Beer Chase.
I’m always like a kid on Christmas Eve before I get back on him after the summer break.
Bryony and Frodon are a match made in racing heaven
Since this time last year the plan had been to go over to Northern Ireland to defend his title at Down Royal.
But the weather there has been grim and the ground will be verging on heavy.
So it would have been a waste of time taking Frodon over there — he hates soft ground, it takes his enjoyment out of it.
He can’t be as exuberant as he likes to be when it’s deep like that, plus it wouldn’t have been fair to send him over on the ferry in stormy weather.
It was quite an easy decision in the end for Paul to target the Badger Beer — he has won it umpteen times!
We think the handicapper has given us a chance, but I’ve still got a lot more weight to carry than everyone else.
Mind you, that’s because I’m on the best horse.
Everyone knows our tactics by now and there will be horses off a featherweight coming and taking us on.
But I’ve clocked 38mph going into a fence on Frodon multiple times.
He isn’t a slouch and he could be tough to catch if he gets on a roll.
He is being his usual self at home, squealing, boisterous and making himself known.
He might be only ten but he has run in plenty of tough races and has some miles on his tyres.
But he isn’t showing any sign of slowing down.
He thrives off his work, he loves life and is a joy to be around.
We also run Enrilo in the race, so we have two very strong contenders.
He has plenty of class and had a wind op since his last start, so I expect he will give me something to think about.
The action is really starting to hot up now and fingers crossed me and Frode will be back in the winners’ enclosure together later this afternoon!
Bryony was speaking in association with Betfair – claim their top racing offer HERE
