I HOPE to be raising a toast to my old pal Frodon after the Badger Beer Chase.
I̢۪m always like a kid on Christmas Eve before I get back on him after the summer break.
Since this time last year the plan had been to go over to Northern Ireland to defend his title at Down Royal.
But the weather there has been grim and the ground will be verging on heavy.
So it would have been a waste of time taking Frodon over there — he hates soft ground, it takes his enjoyment out of it.
He can̢۪t be as exuberant as he likes to be when it̢۪s deep like that, plus it wouldn̢۪t have been fair to send him over on the ferry in stormy weather.
It was quite an easy decision in the end for Paul to target the Badger Beer — he has won it umpteen times!
We think the handicapper has given us a chance, but I̢۪ve still got a lot more weight to carry than everyone else.
Mind you, that̢۪s because I̢۪m on the best horse.
Everyone knows our tactics by now and there will be horses off a featherweight coming and taking us on.
But I̢۪ve clocked 38mph going into a fence on Frodon multiple times.
He isn̢۪t a slouch and he could be tough to catch if he gets on a roll.
He is being his usual self at home, squealing, boisterous and making himself known.
He might be only ten but he has run in plenty of tough races and has some miles on his tyres.
But he isn̢۪t showing any sign of slowing down.
He thrives off his work, he loves life and is a joy to be around.
We also run Enrilo in the race, so we have two very strong contenders.
He has plenty of class and had a wind op since his last start, so I expect he will give me something to think about.
The action is really starting to hot up now and fingers crossed me and Frode will be back in the winners̢۪ enclosure together later this afternoon!
Bryony was speaking in association with HERE
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