Frodon rerouted to Wincanton as soft ground scuppers Down Royal repeat bid

Frodon will not defend his Ladbrokes Champion Chase crown at Down Royal this weekend. The ten-year-old will instead head to Wincanton. He will make his reappearance off a mark of 158 in Saturday's Badger Beer Handicap Chase (1.50). The weather is bad at the Down royal and it's a stormy forecast. Frodon's last run was at Cheltenham Festival. Last term he won the first Grade 1 chase of the season. He was beaten by Minella Indo and Galvin. It will be his first race at Wincanton in six years.

Galvin, Conflated, Willie Mullins, Envoi Allen, Beacon Edge, Fury Road, Lifetime Ambition and Vanillier are in the running for the Down Royal Champion Chase. The two-day festival gets under way on Friday. Conditions on Tuesday were soft, soft to heavy in places on the hurdle course and fresh ground on inner track.

Dave Orton, Paul Kealy and Tom Segal and Racing Post tipsters Paul and Tommy give their exclusive views on the 2022-23 National Hunt season.