1
A Plus Tard
J:
Rachael Blackmore
T:
H de Bromhead
Form
121-321
Age
11
Weight
11st 10lbs
OR
165
Forecast SP
7/4
2
Aso
b1
J:
Charlie Deutsch
T:
Miss V Williams
Form
162-354
Age
15
Weight
11st 10lbs
OR
162
Forecast SP
20/1
3
Duc Des Genievres
t
J:
R M Power
T:
W P Mullins
Form
1-3482F
Age
12
Weight
11st 10lbs
OR
160
Forecast SP
16/1
4
Frodon
t
J:
Bryony Frost
T:
P F Nicholls
Form
111-331
Age
13
Weight
11st 10lbs
OR
168
Forecast SP
4/1
5
Min
J:
P Townend
T:
W P Mullins
Form
151-212
Age
14
Weight
11st 10lbs
OR
171
Forecast SP
5/2
6
Riders Onthe Storm
J:
Sam Twiston-Davies
T:
N A Twiston-Davies
Form
1FP-111
Age
12
Weight
11st 10lbs
OR
162
Forecast SP
7/1
7
Saint Calvados
J:
G Sheehan
T:
H Whittington
Form
337-142
Age
12
Weight
11st 10lbs
OR
161
Forecast SP
20/1
8
Shattered Love
p
t
J:
M P Walsh
T:
G Elliott
Form
P-51732
Age
14
Weight
11st 3lbs
OR
151
Forecast SP
25/1
PreviewsFrodon was one of the stories of last year's Festival when ending an excellent season with a gutsy display to fend off Aso in this race. However, this campaign hasn't exactly gone to plan for the eight-year-old, with disappointing efforts in the Old Roan and the Betfair Chase, and despite winning at Kempton last time, he faces a much bigger task in defence of his crown. Min has placed at two Festivals when chasing home Altior in both the 2016 Supreme and the 2018 Champion Chase, and this appears to be his best chance to add a Cheltenham success to his CV. A replication of his stunning display in last year's Melling Chase at Aintree would make him the one to beat, but Willie Mullins' chaser has a big performance at the Dublin Racing Festival to back up, when second to Chacun Pour Soi, and A PLUS TARD could be the chief beneficiary. A runaway winner of the novice handicap at last year's meeting, scoring by 16 lengths, the six-year-old built on his return at Navan to beat the aforementioned Chacun Pour Soi at Christmas and it may be a blessing in disguise that connections ruled him out of the rematch last month. Riders Onthe Storm has been one of the big improvers this campaign, going unbeaten in three starts for Nigel Twiston-Davies, but he had a tough race when landing the Ascot Chase, where he was arguably a fortunate winner, so preference for the minor honours goes to Saint Calvados, who has produced two fantastic efforts off big weights in handicaps at the course this season.