WHETHER Frodon should take his chance in the Gold Cup was a topic of discussion after his brave win in the Cotswold Chase at the weekend.

That race does not have a great record at producing horses to figure in the Gold Cup finish.

It’s unlikely he will get the freedom to jump at his own pace as he did last week, but he jumps brilliantly, is only seven and at the peak of his powers and confidence. Why not be bold when all that is to his advantage? Gold Cups are usually won on the first attempt. There is plenty of time to go back for the Ryanair next year or the following. Ten-year-olds have won that race and it has a different profile than recent Gold Cups.

Surely Paul Nicholls’ bold policy is better for racing than the “I’ll put him/her in the race they have the most chance of winning,” outlook, when the horse has won that race before, and will be odds-on, as we are likely to see in the case of Apple’s Jade.

Racing TV

THE free view period for Irish racing on Racing TV ended this week and we are in a pay-up state of play, although this weekend’s offer for 12 is great value.

It has helped this week with the cancellations in Britain which should give the Dublin Racing Festival a decent airtime. Some of the criticism has been unnecessary. It is basically the same team with Gary O’Brien and Kevin O’Ryan. The Friday night slot covering Dundalk is poor in comparison to the ATR Get In show, but that programme evolved over time, as did the Weaver and Harvey partnership.

The big issue will still be not being able to see entire races but the broadcast from Down Royal this week was excellent, with the time to cover all angles and the addition of Niall Hannity was excellent with Kevin O’Ryan.

Leopardstown fireworks?

WHAT you want from a big occasion, and in this case a big Festival meeting, is to send the faithful home still talking about it. By the looks of it, we’ll be talking about many of the races we have to savour over the next two days of the second Dublin Racing Festival. There are enough clashes to see new stars stamp their class, established ones show their talents and maybe a few shocks to make a rematch the subject of a few more weeks of anticipation.