2016 Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase

[loveracing]

Does anyone know if The Last Samuri is heading to Cheltenham or this race?

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[Morning Glory]

Heard Aintree mentioned on twitter but checked Baileys Blog but only these quotes


The Last Samuri up 9 to 149


I notice in todays Racing Post's Monday Jury Brian Ellison says that The Last Samuri will win Saturdays re scheduled Welsh Grand National.. He will not as he will not be entered, let alone run.. The Last Samuri wants good ground!




Tough, honest and thoroughly genuine.. How would like a person like that, let alone a racehorse?

The Last Samuri is all of the above and yesterday at Kempton he showed every one of those wonderful qualities.

We were worried that Kempton was a track too tight for him but we needed the best ground we could find.



He would probably answer if you e-mailed him !

[mayo]

I had a different one in mind

Will do Stats for this one this am in the usual place.

http://www.fatjockey.com/forum/showthread.php?5944-Ultima-Buisness-Solutions-3m-Handicap-Chase-Stats

[Liam301287]

I just being looking through this race. I quite like the look of Kruhzlinin at around 20/1.

[Istabraq]

These summaries are a great read but so many of the handicaps demand a horse who has run within the last 30 or so days, plus, the record of last time out winners is exceptional and with 9 weeks to go so many will have at least on e more outing and their mark could be very different come March.
The ones to watch out for are those who currently don't qualify and need a rise of 8-10lb to get in....

[Old Vic]

Does anyone know if The Last Samuri is heading to Cheltenham or this race?

on Donns list


The Last Samuri

The Last Samuri put up a really tough and gutsy performance to land the three-mile handicap chase at Kempton on Saturday, staying on strongly to win well at a track that shouldn’t really have suited him.

And it didn’t suit him. Starting off just behind the front rank, he was being niggled along from a long way out. He is a galloper rather than a pacey type, and his jumping is safe and assured rather than slick and sharp. He was deliberate at one or two of his fences, with the result that David Bass had to ride him away on the landing side.

He was under pressure as they started the turn for home, but he was finding for pressure, closing on the leaders. It looked like Viva Steve and Opening Batsman had it between them as they levelled up for the third last fence, but The Last Samuri stays well and he latched onto the leading pair’s coat tails to give himself a chance. Switched to the far side, he made ground at the second last fence and, switched out between the two leaders on the run to the last, he closed on Viva Steve, flew the last fence, and stayed on well all the way to the line to get up and win by a length.

It was a fine performance from Kim Bailey’s horse. He was a progressive novice for Donald McCain at the end of last season, he won a good stayers’ handicap chase at Kelso in March, and he rounded off his season by running Puffin Billy to a neck at Ayr in April. Switched to Kim Bailey for the start of this season, he ran a cracker to finish a close-up third behind Wakanda and Virak in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, and those two horses went on to finish first and second in the Silver Cup at Ascot.

There was every chance that The Last Samuri would step up on that run, his seasonal debut, his first run for Kim Bailey, and he duly did. Saturday’s run was probably a career-best, despite the fact that it was on a track that didn’t suit him. The handicapper will obviously raise him a few pounds for Saturday’s win, but the Flemensfirth gelding still has plenty of potential to progress further. Saturday’s run was just his seventh in a chase, and he has only just turned eight. Also, he should do even better with a stiffer test of stamina, a more galloping track or softer ground or a longer distance, or any combination thereof. Connections were talking about the Grand National for him, but that might be at least a year too early for him this year. The Irish National would be an interesting project for him this year.

27th December 2015

[Old Vic]

Donn adds another

Killer Crow

Killer Crow did well to finish second behind Empire Of Dirt in the Leopardstown Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday, given that he was held up off what proved to be a fairly sedate pace.

This is a race in which it is usually an advantage to race prominently, and that factor was exacerbated this year by the sedate early pace. Settled towards the rear of the field through the early stages of the race by Bryan Cooper, Killer Crow’s jumping was good and he moved easily down the back straight. Still second last as they turned to face up to the second last fence, he moved nicely away on the landing side, and got a nice run around the home turn along the inside. He tracked Empire Of Dirt down to the final fence, apparently travelling better than his fellow Gigginstown House horse, but Empire Of Dirt was able to pick up on landing over the last, having travelled easily up with the pace, Killer Crow picked up too, he came two and a half lengths clear of Seabass in third, but he couldn’t close the gap on Empire Of Dirt, and he went down by two lengths in the end.

It was still a fine performance from Gordon Elliott’s horse. He was the only horse who could get into it from the rear, the winner, third and fourth had all raced prominently, and he looked a real danger to Empire Of Dirt when he made his progress on the run from the second last fence. He was probably significantly disadvantaged by the sedate early pace, and he will be interesting stepped back up to three miles and ridden patiently like this.

The handicapper raised him 4lb to a mark of 134, but that is fair. He is only seven and this was just his seventh chase, so he still has plenty of scope for progression. It is significant that Bryan Cooper chose to ride him in front of the winner, he is obviously well regarded at home. By Presenting, he would be very interesting over three miles on better ground now and the three-mile handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival would be a legitimate target.

17th January 2016

[Aldie1988]

Hi Guys,

Requested Killer Crow on Bet 365, now on there @ 20/1

[mayo]

Hobbs in Weekender: Fingal Bay & Kruzhlinin to Ultima

[Istabraq]

Hobbs in Weekender: Fingal Bay & Kruzhlinin to Ultima

Fingal Bay would be very interesting in this....

[Cashew King]

Fingal Bay would be very interesting in this....

Who will ride it ? Johnson appears to have committed to Kruzhlinin for his national ride so would expect he would be on that to keep the Rooneys happy !

[Istabraq]

Who will ride it ? Johnson appears to have committed to Kruzhlinin for his national ride so would expect he would be on that to keep the Rooneys happy !

Dickie will ride whatever he thinks can win the race, he loves Fingal Bay and has ridden the horse every time he's raced bar at Haydock the other week when he went to Ascot, I don't see the Rooneys taking issue with any pilot for choosing another horse over theirs, it happens all the time in racing.
Personally I see Fingal Bay as the more likely winner of the pair though the betting says the reverse

[mayo]

Is Jason coming back ?

[Lester]

The Ultima Handicap Chase
Grade 3, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 2.50pm, Tuesday, March 15, three miles and a furlong. For five-year- olds & upwards. Penalties: after February 28, a winner of a chase 5lb. No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed February 23 (107 entries), entries released February 25, weights revealed March 2. Six-day confirmation stage March 9, final declaration stage 10.00am, March 14. Maximum field of 24.

Horse Age Owner Trainer
A GOOD SKIN (IRE) 7 Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd Tom George
AACHEN 12 Tony Bloom Venetia Williams
ACCORDING TO TREV (IRE) 10 Building Bridgies David Bridgwater
ALGERNON PAZHAM (IRE) 7 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies
ALOOMOMO (FR) 6 The Large G & T Partnership Warren Greatrex
ALTERNATIF (FR) 6 Prof Caroline Tisdall David Pipe
ANAY TURGE (FR) 11 Mrs K Hawke Nigel Hawke
ANNACOTTY (IRE) 8 Mrs Peter Prowting Alan King
ANOTHER HERO (IRE) 7 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
ARGOCAT (IRE) 8 Fitri Hay Nicky Henderson
AUDACIOUS PLAN (IRE) 7 A McIver Rebecca Curtis
BALLYKAN 6 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 10 Allan Stennett David Pipe
BALNASLOW (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
BAND OF BLOOD (IRE) 8 J A Provan & C E Stedman Dr Richard Newland
BEAR'S AFFAIR (IRE) 10 G B Barlow Nicky Henderson
BEG TO DIFFER (IRE) 6 Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor Jonjo O'Neill
BENENDEN (IRE) 8 Mark Blandford Michael Scudamore
BLACK THUNDER (FR) 9 Donlon, MacDonald, Fulton & Webb Paul Nicholls
BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 11 Adrian Butler/S P O'Connor Gordon Elliott IRE
BLOOD COTIL (FR) 7 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
BONNY KATE (IRE) 6 Mrs Patricia Hunt Noel Meade IRE
BROADWAY BUFFALO (IRE) 8 Jo Tracey David Pipe
BUCKERS BRIDGE (IRE) 10 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
CAPTAIN VON TRAPPE (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
CAROLE'S DESTRIER 8 Mrs C Skipworth Neil Mulholland
CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) 8 J P McManus Gordon Elliott IRE
CHAMPAGNE WEST (IRE) 8 Roger Brookhouse Philip Hobbs
COGRY 7 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies
COOLOGUE (IRE) 7 The New Club Partnership Charlie Longsdon
DE KERRY MAN (IRE) 8 In It For The Crack David Bridgwater
DEFINITLY RED (IRE) 7 P J Martin Brian Ellison
DOCTOR HARPER (IRE) 8 The Johnson Family David Pipe
DOING FINE (IRE) 8 Carl Hinchy Rebecca Curtis
DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 10 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies
DROP OUT JOE 8 The Jesters Charlie Longsdon
EMILY GRAY (IRE) 8 J Perriss Kim Bailey
ERICHT (IRE) 10 Bridget Hanbury Nicky Henderson
FINGAL BAY (IRE) 10 Mrs R J Skan Philip Hobbs
FOX APPEAL (IRE) 9 The Hawk Inn Syndicate 3 Emma Lavelle
FREE EXPRESSION (IRE) 7 J P McManus Gordon Elliott IRE
GENEROUS RANSOM (IRE) 8 Sir Christopher & Lady Wates Nick Gifford
GODSMEJUDGE (IRE) 10 Favourites Racing Ltd David Dennis
GOLDEN CHIEFTAIN (IRE) 11 Brocade Racing Colin Tizzard
HADRIAN'S APPROACH (IRE) 9 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson
HOLYWELL (IRE) 9 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill
HOME FARM (IRE) 9 Chris Jones Henry de Bromhead IRE
INDIAN CASTLE (IRE) 8 Askew Dick Hernon Reynard Ian Williams
IRISH CAVALIER (IRE) 7 A McIver Rebecca Curtis
KATENKO (FR) 10 A Brooks Venetia Williams
KATKEAU (FR) 9 Prof C Tisdall, J A Gent, R C Wilkin David Pipe
KILLER CROW (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
KINGS PALACE (IRE) 8 Drew, George & Johnson Family David Pipe
KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) 7 Tim Radford Mick Channon
KRUZHLININ (GER) 9 Paul & Clare Rooney Philip Hobbs
LE MERCUREY (FR) 6 Colm Donlon & Chris Giles Paul Nicholls
LIVING NEXT DOOR (IRE) 10 John Breslin Tony Martin IRE
LORD SCOUNDREL (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
MALA BEACH (IRE) 8 Chris Jones Gordon Elliott IRE
MIDNIGHT PRAYER 11 The Legends Partnership Alan King

MONETAIRE (FR) 10 Allan Stennett David Pipe
MORNING ASSEMBLY (IRE) 9 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd Pat Fahy IRE
NICKNAME EXIT (FR) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
NO BUTS 8 Wontcostalot Partnership David Bridgwater
NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) 7 Chris Jones Gordon Elliott IRE
O MAONLAI (IRE) 8 Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd Tom George
OUR FATHER (IRE) 10 The Ives & Johnson Families Gordon Elliott IRE
OUT SAM 7 Swanee River Partnership Warren Greatrex
PASS THE HAT 9 Marcus Beresford/Athene Keatinge Arthur Moore IRE
PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) 9 ISL Recruitment Fergal O'Brien
QUITE BY CHANCE 7 T Hamlin,J M Dare,J W Snook,J T Warner Colin Tizzard
REGAL ENCORE (IRE) 8 J P McManus Anthony Honeyball
ROCKY CREEK (IRE) 10 The Johnson & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls
SAINT ARE (FR) 10 D W Fox Tom George
SALUBRIOUS (IRE) 9 The Johnson & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls
SAM WINNER (FR) 9 Angela Yeoman Paul Nicholls
SAROQUE (IRE) 9 A Brooks Venetia Williams
SAUSALITO SUNRISE (IRE) 8 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
SEVENTH SKY (GER) 9 John Heron Charlie Mann
SHANAHAN'S TURN (IRE) 8 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
SHANGANI (USA) 10 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams
SI C'ETAIT VRAI (FR) 10 James Nicholson Neil Mulholland
SILVERGROVE 8 Nicholas Piper & Claire E Piper Ben Pauling
SMOOTH STEPPER 7 Mrs Aafke Clarke Sue Smith
SOUTHFIELD THEATRE (IRE) 8 Angela Yeoman Paul Nicholls
SPLASH OF GINGE 8 J D Neild Nigel Twiston-Davies
SPRING HEELED (IRE) 9 Dr Ronan Lambe Jim Culloty IRE
STANDING OVATION (IRE) 9 The Bravo Partnership David Pipe
TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR) 9 Boultbee Brooks Ltd Venetia Williams
THE GIANT BOLSTER 11 Simon Hunt & Gary Lambton David Bridgwater
THE JOB IS RIGHT 8 Mrs M Devine Michael Hourigan IRE
THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) 8 Paul & Clare Rooney Kim Bailey
THE YOUNG MASTER 7 Dajam & The Old Masters Neil Mulholland
THEATRE GUIDE (IRE) 9 Jean Bishop Colin Tizzard
THOMAS BROWN 7 The Corse Lawners Harry Fry
TWELVE ROSES 8 Jones Broughtons Wilson Weaver Kim Bailey
UN TEMPS POUR TOUT (IRE) 7 Professor Caroline Tisdall & Bryan Drew David Pipe
UNIC DE BERSY (FR) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
UNIONISTE (FR) 8 John Hales Paul Nicholls
UPSWING (IRE) 8 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
VIRAK (FR) 7 Hills of Ledbury (Aga) Paul Nicholls
VIVA STEVE (IRE) 8 Tim Radford Mick Channon
VYTA DU ROC (FR) 7 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
WALDORF SALAD 8 Alan Parker Venetia Williams
WIZARDS BRIDGE 7 The Butterwick Syndicate Colin Tizzard
WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) 8 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls
ZIGA BOY (FR) 7 Axom LI Alan King
107 entries
22 Irish-trained

[stephensmith84]

Been through the entries for this for a few hours.

The one that jumps out at me, on a trends basis, is Jonjo's Beg To Differ. Wasn't quoted for the race on PP, then when I hit refresh it's 14/1 3rd fav.

The other that ticks a lot of boxes is Vyta Du Roc, who Nicky's been adamant goes either RSA or the 4-miler. I wonder if they'll be tempted to swerve those and come here?