Cotswold Chase trip not much of a worry for course ace Frodon, says Nicholls

Paul Nicholls, whose hopes of equalling Arkle's legendary trainer Tom Dreaper's five Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs appear to rest chiefly with King George VI Chase hero Clan Des Obeaux, could have Frodon to fire at the prestigious Magners-backed event if the likeable seven-year-old comes through his trial at the track on Saturday.

Nicholls, who trains the son of Nickname for Paul Vogt, is optimistic the gelding can cope with Saturday's 3m1½f trip in the BetBright Cotswold Chase, despite not winning over further than 2m5f.

However, in Bryony Frost's mount's favour is the race is staged on Cheltenham's New course where his record is 3811501.

"He wasn't doing a lot wrong over two and a half miles, but there aren't many options for him," said Nicholls.

"The only option is taking on Politologue and Cyrname in the Ascot Chase and I've always thought he'd stay. In a normal year the Cotswold Chase would be soft, heavy, testing ground and you wouldn't even be entertaining this, but on goodish ground at a track he likes, why not find out."

Frodon heads the Cotswold Chase market at a general 9-4 and is 33-1 for the Gold Cup, which Nicholls won with See More Business, Kauto Star (twice) and Denman.

The ten-time champion jumps trainer added: "He's favourite and it's not the hottest Cotswold there's ever been. He'll either stay or he won't - it's a simple as that. It's a nice race to run him in and it's on the New course and he absolutely loves that. We'll find out if he stays, but it's intriguing.

"The improvement in him this season has been phenomenal and I don't actually think the trip will be a problem. If you look at his races this year he's done nothing but stay on strongly.

"I always say Rome wasn't built in a day and he's just a maturing horse - horses do improve as they get older because they get stronger and then better."

Frodon, who may be joined on Saturday by stablemate Black Corton, also has the option of dropping back in trip for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but Nicholls is not looking beyond Saturday.

"If he won I'd have a dilemma. Saturday's a £100,000 race you want to be winning anyway, forgetting the future, but if he did win it'd give us the option of the two races at the festival," he said.

Nicholls is also set to represented by a festival fancy at Doncaster with Dynamite Dollars - 7-1 for the Racing Post Arkle - pencilled in for the Napoleons Casino & Restaurant Owlerton Sheffield Lightning Novices' Chase.

Dynamite Dollars: 7-1 for the Racing Post ArkleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"We haven't got many options between now and Cheltenham," he said of the Henry VIII Novices' Chase winner.

"He loves good ground and he's surprised me, but is another horse who has physically improved and been helped by time. He's a solid jumper who goes a good gallop."

Warriors Tale and Art Mauresque (both Sky Bet Chase) and Truckers Lodge (Albert Bartlett River Don Novices' Hurdle) are likely to appear at Doncaster as well, the Ditcheat trainer said.

Get ahead of the game with exclusive Saturday preview content on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app from 2pm on Friday