Virgin Bet Monet's Garden Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 5m 3.75s

Frodon^t²²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 169| CD

11/4

One of the most popular chasers in racing, building up an endearing friendship with Bryony Frost; beaten just once in four starts at Cheltenham (culminating with the Ryanair Chase) since taking this race by 1¼L in 2018 (on good).

Form: 0/12111-

Kalashnikov²⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 155| CD

7/5

Had some mishaps over fences as a novice (including in the Arkle at Cheltenham) but is a very promising young chaser as he demonstrated when thwarting La Bague Au Roi in the Grade 1 Manifesto Chase over C&D in April (good to soft).

Form: 1122U1-

Forest Bihan²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: B S Hughes| T: B Ellison| OR: 149

9/2

Carrying the silks of Phil & Julie Martin (won this with Conquisto in 2013) this useful 2m chaser competes for the bang-in-form Brian Ellison; should strip fitter for his seasonal reappearance third at Kelso; vulnerable at 2m4f on soft ground?

Form: F3247-3

Bigmartre¹⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: H Whittington| OR: 148| D

17/2

Kept on (never a threat) when negotiating a clear round over the National Fences in the Topham Chase (2m5f, soft) in April; ready 16L winner of a Class 2 handicap chase at Perth (2m4f, good) subsequently; faces a much sterner test in this company.

Form: P43001-

Flying Angel^v²⁰⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| CD

6/1

Like Kalashnikov is a previous winner of the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase (2017); unable to win since despite respectable efforts in competitive handicaps at Ascot and Cheltenham; difficult to fancy from outside of the handicap proper.

Form: 287556-

Non-Runners

Born Survivor¹⁹⁸

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Kalashnikov (7/5), Frodon (11/4), Forest Bihan (9/2), Born Survivor (5/1), Flying Angel (6/1), Bigmartre (17/2)

Kalashnikov is undoubtedly a very talented young chaser as he demonstrated when ending the unbeaten run of La Bague Au Roi in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices Chase over C&D in April. However, he does also have some jumping flaws and the suspicion is that the gallant Ryanair Chase winner FRODON will take full advantage of such shortcomings. The remarkable story of his sustained progress (with Bryony Frost in the saddle) has undoubtedly attracted a whole new generation of supporters to the sport of National Hunt racing. If able to repeat last year's success in this race, his trainer Paul Nicholls will be landing the prize for a record breaking fourth time (2006, 2015 and 2018).