The ULTIMA Handicap Steeplechase

[Saxon Warrior]

Got absolutely murdered by the handicapper giving him 160

Not sure where he conjured that from personally

Probably because he beat Run Wild Fred 8 lengths and RWF is 158 in GB for Grand National.

[punterorplonker]

Got absolutely murdered by the handicapper giving him 160

Not sure where he conjured that from personally

Oh well means we have a nice ew play in the RSA then

[FinalFurlong91]

Probably because he beat Run Wild Fred 8 lengths and RWF is 158 in GB for Grand National.

True but RWF did decide to eat one of the fences that day

[Hurricane fly]

To me, Fury Road is just a better horse than RWF.

Im always a bit wary of ratings given to handicappers as how often does every horse run to its mark? Almost never, and if you win or go close in a big on you get smacked with a massive hike. It's a reason why so many English horses have inflated ratings imo, the gap between grade 1 and handicap is bigger than the ratings suggest but big ratings are given for handicap wins resulting in graded horses having to be given even bigger ratings.

It would seem to me that whenever RWF faces a potentially good horse of levels he loses, FR, Cape Gentleman, Eklat.

Im not knocking him and he is evidently a good horse at extended distances but there is a reason he goes for big handicaps and not grade 1s.

[On The Fringe]

In the RP this morning, Kim Bailey says he is 60-40 leaning towards this race for Does He Know

[FinalFurlong91]

To me, Fury Road is just a better horse than RWF.

Im always a bit wary of ratings given to handicappers as how often does every horse run to its mark? Almost never, and if you win or go close in a big on you get smacked with a massive hike. It's a reason why so many English horses have inflated ratings imo, the gap between grade 1 and handicap is bigger than the ratings suggest but big ratings are given for handicap wins resulting in graded horses having to be given even bigger ratings.

It would seem to me that whenever RWF faces a potentially good horse of levels he loses, FR, Cape Gentleman, Eklat.

Im not knocking him and he is evidently a good horse at extended distances but there is a reason he goes for big handicaps and not grade 1s.

Id have RWF as pretty poorly handicapped off his mark

[Maxfield]

In the RP this morning, Kim Bailey says he is 60-40 leaning towards this race for Does He Know

Hope so.....

[RufusFlynn]

The couple that i think are interesting for this are:

Our Power

• wears headgear
• aged 8
• ran at last years festival
• novice chaser
• GB novice - won a hurdle worth >?10k to the winner
• ran in last 60 days
• stepped up to 3m in Coral Trophy

Storm Control

• wears headgear
• ran at last Festival
• best RPR over 3miles
• Form at Cheltenham is 115P
• Coming back into form
• ran in last 60 days

Both UK trained, in a race that has a history of going the way of smaller trainers. Sam Thomas has a good string this year and in in good form. Kerry Lee's horses on a good day are more than capable. hard to pin down exactly what is heading here with many having multiple entries. The Irish don't tend to target this race although that could change this year with GE having a few entries seemingly heading this way. The above two just seem to meet a lot of the trends.

[FinalFurlong91]

Our Power is my main interest too

Backed him the other day and he was given a very gentle ride i thought

A fact finding mission to see if he stays for another target was my thought

[RufusFlynn]

Our Power is my main interest too

Backed him the other day and he was given a very gentle ride i thought

A fact finding mission to see if he stays for another target was my thought

Yes thought the run was impressive behind some more experienced stayers; was kept out wide and made a mistake at the last so overall very promising.

The fact he meets a lot of the trends is a bonus. Sam Thomas should have a good meeting - might EW double Our Power with Before Midnight in the Grand Annual too.

[Benjy23]

I've not thought about this for too long but at no. 63 surely Our Power is unlikely to get in?

[FinalFurlong91]

I've not thought about this for too long but at no. 63 surely Our Power is unlikely to get in?

I can see loads of unlikely runners

138 normally gets in

[Olliemagern]

I've not thought about this for too long but at no. 63 surely Our Power is unlikely to get in?

Very very unlikely. Almost no chance I’d say. But then it depends on what you can see runnjng like final furlong says. Hope he does tho he ran a very eye catching run last time

[Quevega]

I've not thought about this for too long but at no. 63 surely Our Power is unlikely to get in?

He'd get in most years on his rating, but not sure about where 63 would be on an average year, someone did do these things at some point and may have an idea.
There are many horses double and triple entered though and a very quick run through gave me around 30 almost certain not to run. This leaves quite a few to come out still but entirely possible.

[RufusFlynn]

True - but with NRNB or if he was balloted out then you would get your money back either way. If he turns up at the lower end of the weights he'd be a decent EW shot, especially with extra places available on the day.