The Badger Beer Handicap is a Must-Watch Event
Whether you are into the sports betting or not, the Badger Beer Handicap is a must-watch event that has taken the nation by storm. This event will take place on Sunday, June 17 and will feature the world's top horses.
Lord Accord
Several top chasers will be vying for the top prize in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Saturday. The race is a limited handicap for older horses and will be run over a course of two and a half miles and is open to horses aged four years or more.
There are a number of big bets on the cards including the Gordon Nicholls-trained Sceau Royal, who is a big fan of racing on the flat, and the Alan King-trained Neville's Cross, who is a novice chaser of note. There are also the big boys of the field including the Gordon Nicholls trained Rocco and the Alan King-trained El Presente. In addition to the aforementioned Rocco and El Presente, the top weights include the top weights of Frodon and Enrilo. There are also the smaller ones, like the grade 2 rated Irish Prophecy and the Grade 2 rated Neville's Cross.
It's safe to say that the most popular winner, the Gordon Nicholls trained Lord Accord, is not going to be a bad bet on a day when he has good ground to work with and should be able to take his chances. It's worth noting that he's only been back in the saddle for about two months, having been out of the picture for a couple of years. In terms of the main event, the Lord Accord is expected to have a good chance at retaining his crown.
Frost
Those who came to watch Paul Nicholls' Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton were rewarded with a two-and-a-half-length win for his ten-year-old Frodon. The win rounded off a ten-race run for the Paul Vogt-owned gelding under his regular rider.
The winner had been sent off at 9-4, with Lord Accord and El Presente keeping him company for the first half of the race. A mistake at the final fence meant that he would be hard pressed to make a comeback. However, it was all over after that, as Frodon galloped into submission and sped to the line to score by two and a half lengths.
The winner's win was the third for Frost in the contest. She also claimed the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last year. In fact, Frost is now the first female jockey to win a graded race over obstacles. The Badger Beer Chase is an early-season handicap chase open to four-year-olds and older. It is a three-mile, five-furlong chase with 21 fences.
Frost's win follows a pair of Grade Ones in the last two weeks, with A Plus Tard winning at Wincanton on heavy and Ajax winning at Down Royal. Frost is now in the hunt for a conditional jockeys' championship in the 2018-19 season.
The Paul Nicholls-trained 10 year old has already won triple Grade One scorer El Presente. He could have a shot at a place in the Gold Cup field in March. He was also a valuable winner at Cheltenham two weeks ago. He should also run well in this weekend's race at Wincanton.
With a top weight of 12 stone, Frodon will need to be careful, but he has already proved his worth in the race and is a valuable member of Paul Nicholls' stable.
Frodon
Having recently been rerouted from Down Royal, Frodon was given a second chance at the Listed Badger Beer Handicap Chase on Saturday at Wincanton. The event is run over five furlongs on a fast flat course and is open to horses aged four years and older. Paul Nicholls, the trainer of the winning horse, will be looking to repeat his success with another contender, Enrilo.
Frodon was sent off as a 9/4 favourite and was partnered with Bryony Frost, a 22 year-old English jockey from Buckfastleigh, Devon. Initially, Frodon's chances were slim but he was never really in doubt, as he bounded up the run-in and stayed on to score by two and a half lengths. The win is a big step up for the seven-year-old, who is in line to make his next start at Kempton Park in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase. It was an excellent performance from Frodon, and the winner was deservedly well supported by the local crowd.
The winning horse also won a Grade one at Wincanton last year, and is set to return there in the near future. This time around he will be carrying the weight and it's a good thing, as he is one of a number of top-class performers in the field. The only real threat was the last-to-finish, Lord Accord.
The Badger Beer Handicap Chase will be run in November and is a listed event with 21 fences. It is open to horses aged four years and older and has been run since 1962. Amongst the other contenders are the likes of Cap Du Nord, who was a close third at the last meeting, and Neville's Cross, a resuming maiden who's won twice in the last two seasons.
Wincanton
Those who are familiar with jump racing in Britain may be familiar with the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton Racecourse in Somerset. This race is run each year in November and is open to four-year-old and older horses. Those who want to watch it can take advantage of the free shuttle bus service between Wincanton and Bruton and nearby train stations.
The Badger Beer Handicap Chase is an open handicap race for four-year-olds and older horses that is run over a distance of 3 miles. This race has 21 fences and is regarded as a Listed National Hunt steeplechase. This year's field includes A Plus Tard, who has previously won a Grade 1 at Wincanton. Also lining up is Sceau Royal, who is looking to add to his Grade 1 win last season.
Enrilo is another horse that has been on the radar recently. He finished second in the Grade One Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and was then rated 6lbs less by the British handicapper. The eight-year-old gelding has been trained by Tony Newcombe and has won a maiden hurdle at Newton Abbott. He is also trained by Kim Bailey. The gelding is in great form.
The Badger Beer Handicap is a feature race on a hugely popular jump racing day at Wincanton. The course has received significant rain in recent days and the clerk of the course is looking to manage the situation in the best possible way. The weather forecast is still unsettled but conditions are expected to improve ahead of Saturday's card.
The Badger Beer Handicap chase will feature two Paul Nicholls trained horses. The 13-time champion trainer will send out top weights Frodon and Enrilo.
Odds
Listed status is the name of the game for the Badger Beer Silver Trophy Handicap Chase at Wincanton, which is held on Saturday, November 2. It is a three-mile, one-furlong race for those aged four or older. A purse of around PS60,000 will be on offer. A number of horses are chasing the prize, including Sceau Royal, who is attempting to win the Grade Two Elite Hurdle.
The Badger Beer Silver Trophy has been a long-standing sponsor of races at Wincanton. The most recent edition was held in 2003 and was upgraded to Listed status. The prize fund is now PS60,000, a considerable increase on its original PS30,000. The three-mile one-furlong course features slight undulations and a right-handed circuit. A total of 15 runners will line up for the 61st edition of the Badger Beer Handicap.
Present Man has recently been unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, including a win in the Grade 2 Newbury Trophy. He also scored in the Badger Beer Silver Trophy Handicap last year, demonstrating the horse's ability to run a good race. His second wind op saw him score at Chepstow last month. Other recent winners include Fingerontheswitch and Aunty Ann.
The best contenders for the title of the winner of the Badger Beer Silver Trophy Handicap are the two finalists, Frodon and Enrilo. Frodon is the reigning Grade One champion chaser while Enrilo is a Grade Two performer. The former has been rerouted from Down Royal while the latter has been dropped a whopping six pounds following a Cheltenham Festival win. The latter is the most likely winner. The runner who gets the nod in the Badger Beer Silver Trophy Handicap has a chance to win the Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Chase later in the year.