Ultima bid still an option for Frodon - while Nicholls reveals 20-1 'dark horse'

Three-time Grade 1 winner Frodon could lead Paul Nicholls' challenge in the festival handicaps, with a bid in the Ultima remaining an option for the popular chaser, while the trainer also revealed new recruit Bell Ex One could be a Cheltenham "dark horse".

Frodon has not featured in handicap company since striking at Cheltenham in October 2020, and only two months later he recorded the biggest win of his career in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

He won at the top level again at Down Royal at the start of the season but after two subsequent defeats the ten-year-old's rating has dropped to 164, the same mark as for that Cheltenham victory.

"He's been an amazing horse and he won what I call his Gold Cup at Down Royal first time out. We got him really ready and won it nicely," Nicholls said.

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"He probably wants better ground now, he doesn't like soft ground as much. He's on 164 which is the same mark he won his last handicap off two years ago at Cheltenham on the same course as the Ultima. We'll make a late decision, if it's soft he won't run. Carrying that weight he has to have everything in his favour to be competitive."

The trainer added: "He's ten going on 11 and has had some amazingly hard battles, he can't go on competing at the highest level forever. He ran in the Gold Cup last year and it showed that just wasn't his race and he hasn't got the boot for the Ryanair. It'll be a late decision, he'll either run and be competitive or we'll wait."

Nicholls has won the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle three times and Bell Ex One, his sole contender this season and a top-priced 20-1, has an intriguing profile, having yet to make a start for the yard since being recruited from Ireland.

The trainer said: "He galloped at Wincanton this [Thursday] morning and went quite nicely but I haven't run him so I don't know too much about him. He's rated 130 and is on quite a stiff mark, so we've kept him for this. He's a bit of a dark horse, Harry [Cobden] rode him this morning and liked him."

McFabulous: a general 14-1 chance for the Coral CupCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Other noteworthy handicap chances include McFabulous, who is set to contest the Coral Cup, while Il Ridoto and Thyme White are possibles for the Grand Annual.

Nicholls revealed old hero Politologue could be retired after a run in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase or the 11-year-old may finish his career in Sandown's Celebration Chase at the end of the season.

Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen is "50-50" to run having suffered an injury to his eye when last of five runners at the Dublin Racing Festival last time.

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