'He's not in as a placeholder' - Nicholls hands Frodon surprise handicap option

Frodon could make a surprise appearance at the Cheltenham Festival after he featured among the entries for the Ultima Handicap Chase on Wednesday.

The three-time Grade 1 winner has run five times at the festival, including his victory in the Ryanair Chase in 2019, but was a notable absentee from the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup entries which were released in January.

Last seen in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, the ten-year-old is rated 164 ahead of a possible Ultima tilt, with trainer Paul Nicholls remaining undecided over whether the King George winner will run in March.

"I was just looking through the cards on Sunday evening and thought let's just stick him in and have a look," Nicholls said. "It's three weeks away still and he's on the same mark he won a handicap off at the track last season. I felt it might be easier putting him in a handicap at this stage than running in the Gold Cup.

"It doesn't mean he will definitely run but we'll see. If we were happy he was 100 per cent fit and well and the ground was right then he could run, he's not in there just as a placeholder. It's taken him a fortnight to get over Ireland but he's back to life now and he's got three weeks, so it's possible."

2022 Cheltenham Festival: big-race entries

Frodon heads 82 entries for Tuesday's 3m1f chase but field sizes across the handicaps for the festival dropped to their lowest levels in more than a decade, with 654 horses entered across the nine handicaps.

Last year's handicap entry figure of 679 was a significant drop from 2020 levels, and the issue of small field sizes which is plaguing British racing could be a festival factor. The Martin Pipe and Coral Cup have attracted the most entries, with 110.

One remaining in contention to take on the likes of Frodon in the Ultima is ante-post favourite Does He Know, who scored impressively in the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase on Saturday.

The Kim Bailey-trained runner was raised 5lb after pulling away by 14 lengths at Ascot but connections are still yet to decide if he will tackle the Ultima or the National Hunt Chase in March.

Kim Bailey's assistant trainer Matthew Nicholls said: "We're very pleased with him and happy with the way he's come out of Ascot, and we feel as if the handicapper has been fair to him on that run.

"He can be a handful but we have a routine that seems to suit him now. As long as we get that right it'll be okay. I know there were a couple of erratic jumps at Ascot but he was very straightforward at the start.

"I'm afraid no decision has been made where he goes yet and it's up in the air. We'll see how things pan out."

2022 Cheltenham Festival handicaps: potential runners plus a long-range shout

Only 38 are entered for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase, down nine from last year. A possible contender is Editeur Du Gite, who was a winner at the course in December and he may take on last year's winner Sky Pirate and the Sam Thomas-trained Before Midnight.

Thomas is also set to wield a leading fancy in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle with Good Risk At All, who stormed to success by nine lengths at Ascot at the weekend and may line up alongside stablemates Al Dancer and Paddys Motorbike.

A notable Coral Cup absentee was Teahupoo, who was as short as 10-1 for the race but will be targeted at the Unibet Champion Hurdle instead after stylishly claiming the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday.

The Shunter will return to the festival in a bid to retain his title in the Plate Handicap Chase, having received a £100,000 bonus after landing the contest last year following his Morebattle victory at Kelso.

The Emmet Mullins-trained horse is among 67 entries for the March 17 contest and also holds an entry in the Coral Cup, alongside the Gordon Elliott-trained Saint Felicien.

Prominent entries from the yard of Willie Mullins include State Man, who is a general 16-1 shot for the Supreme but is engaged in the Coral Cup, Martin Pipe and the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle, for which there are 81 entries.

Cheveley Park's Deploy The Getaway features alongside State Man in the three handicaps for Mullins, who has also handed an entry to Grade 1-winning mare Echoes In Rain in the County, in which she could face Greatwood Hurdle winner West Cork.

Echoes In Rain: one of 14 Willie Mullins-trained entries in the County HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

Ante-post second favourite Birchdale did not feature among the 63 entries for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase, down just two from last year, but market-leader Frontal Assault remains in contention.

50 are entered for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle headed by Gaelic Warrior, who is set to make his first start for Mullins since moving from France and could take on the likes of Fil Dor and Knight Salute.

Sporting John remains on track to take on old rivals The Jam Man and Alaphilippe in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, which has 53 entered, one of the few contests to see an uptake in entries from last year's 46.

Total entries for the Cheltenham Festival's nine handicaps (excluding the novice handicap chase) over the past decade:

2022: 654
2021: 676
2020: 856
2019: 812
2018: 766
2017: 882
2016: 897
2015: 930
2014: 923
2013: 1,014

Read these next:

2022 Cheltenham Festival handicaps: potential runners plus a long-range shout

The key British formlines you need to follow at this year's Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Festival Q&A: put your questions to Pricewise guru Tom Segal

Over 50% off Racing Post Members' Club!Members' Club is the only subscription racing fans and punters need in order to stay informed and make smarter betting decisions. Features include early access to the Racing Post digital newspaper, exclusive news and interviews, premium tips and form study tools to assist with betting. Select 'Get Ultimate Monthly' and enter code TRYME to get your first month for just £14.99* – that's better than half price!

Subscribe now

If you decide that Members' Club is not for you, then you can cancel at anytime by contacting us.

*Members' Club Ultimate Monthly first month will be charged at £14.99, renews at full price thereafter