@TheTWETracker's Three To Follow This Weekend - 20/01/22

The £50,000 two mile Handicap Chase sees just the seven runners go to post and the horse that has caught our eye is the Venetia Williams trained Frero Banbou.

The seven year old gelding has been a good horse for the thriving yard, constantly knocking on the door in better fielded races that this.Having won in March last year at Sandown by nine lengths off a mark of 124, he then went to Aintree in April and was a superb fourth of 18 in the Grade Three Red Rum Handicap Chase.

Put away for the rest of that season he returned at Ascot this term in a good Listed Handicap Chase where he again he was a valiant fourth.

Since then he has been seen twice at Newbury and Cheltenham over two miles and on both occasions has finished third behind some well handicapped horses.

He still seems feasibly treated for this event and having form in tough conditions he could go close.

The second horse of some interest is the Samuel Drinkwater trained Gallic Geordie who has a quick turn around for this run but still looks to be better than his mark of 108.

The nine year old has been in electric form this term landing a hat-trick of wins at Lingfield twice then Newbury, going from a mark of 81 to 99.

Bumped up another 9lb for his race at Newcastle on Tuesday to a mark of 108 he travelled beautifully in the race and just got beat in a three way photo-finish at the line.

He still looked to have wiggle room in his mark and getting weight off the field in this event makes him one to be on.

It looks a great bit of placing by his trainer if fully sound after bis recent run.

The final horse of the afternoon to keep onside is the Willie Mullins trained Belle Metal for owner Kenny Alexander with the very smart bumper horse now tackling hurdles and is expected to be better than her debut run.

Having made a very impressive rules debut in heavy ground at Naas winning a two mile bumper by 12 lengths, she then went to Limerick in March and landed a Listed event in similar style.

Kept for this season, she was given her hurdles debut at Navan just before Christmas and she ran well to grab fifth of 21 behind some smart looking horses in Au Fleuron and Ha D'or.

She will strip much fitter for that first run whilst also being a lot more savvy at her hurdles having now experienced them.

One to follow.