The ULTIMA Handicap Steeplechase

[delsie777]

Ome On Teddy - definite eachway chance in the Ultima - not a prayer in the KM in my opinion. Some of these Irish horses are so well in it's ridiculous. How the handicapper let Frontal Assault in is one of life's great mysteries... fantastic though!

[charlie]

Added Kiltealy Briggs on the machine @ 27, thought that was too big. He's also entered in the Plate but Ella McNeill has said 'all roads lead to the Ultima', so happy taking a bigger price without NRNB. I was quite impressed with his run in behind BMG and Ahoy Senior at Kempton. Naturally we were all watching the front two, but I thought KB ran with real credit in behind. They went a proper Grade 1 pace and he travelled and jumped really well. AH hasn't touched him until after the second last where class ultimately prevailed and he wasn't given too tough a time. He was far from disgraced and if he were to win here it feels like the sort of run I'd watch back and say 'how did I miss that?'. I like the fact that he followed up at Musselburgh as it shows that race didn't take it out of him, and he ran well to beat an odds on shot where he ran from the front, turned it onto a test of stamina and won the stamina battle. I thought he ran really well in the Plate last year. He got into a lovely rhythm, jumped impeccably barring one mistake down the back straight and ultimately got done for toe and finished 9th. I think he's a player here back up in trip over 3m. Will probably back EW too, but as I said, thought that price was too big.

[DenmanSacre]

Added Kiltealy Briggs on the machine @ 27, thought that was too big. He's also entered in the Plate but Ella McNeill has said 'all roads lead to the Ultima', so happy taking a bigger price without NRNB. I was quite impressed with his run in behind BMG and Ahoy Senior at Kempton. Naturally we were all watching the front two, but I thought KB ran with real credit in behind. They went a proper Grade 1 pace and he travelled and jumped really well. AH hasn't touched him until after the second last where class ultimately prevailed and he wasn't given too tough a time. He was far from disgraced and if he were to win here it feels like the sort of run I'd watch back and say 'how did I miss that?'. I like the fact that he followed up at Musselburgh as it shows that race didn't take it out of him, and he ran well to beat an odds on shot where he ran from the front, turned it onto a test of stamina and won the stamina battle. I thought he ran really well in the Plate last year. He got into a lovely rhythm, jumped impeccably barring one mistake down the back straight and ultimately got done for toe and finished 9th. I think he's a player here back up in trip over 3m. Will probably back EW too, but as I said, thought that price was too big.

Massively surprised if he isn't in the top 3. Put him up last month for this and nothing has changed to make me think he isn't a big player in this.

Finished 10 lengths of Ahoy Senor who is rated high 150s. 17 lengths of Bravemansgame who won a handicap off 159 and now rated 164. KB gets in here off 141.

Only going to be racing off 10 stone 3 pounds as well if Frodon is declared so carrying an absolute featherweight.

[BigChaang]

I folllowed you with Kiltealy Briggs , Denman . Was a bit worried that they have The Wolf entered as well .
So look's a positive if the MacNeill's are saying all roads lead here ..

[DenmanSacre]

I folllowed you with Kiltealy Briggs , Denman . Was a bit worried that they have The Wolf entered as well .
So look's a positive if the MacNeill's are saying all roads lead here ..

Heskin is jocked up. All confirmed he comes here. The Wolf only entered just in case there's a late injury. Scottish National is his plan.

[doctorwu]

I would fancy The Wolf out of the 2 McNeil horses.

[charlie]

I would fancy The Wolf out of the 2 McNeil horses.

decent case, I'm sold

[DenmanSacre]

I would fancy The Wolf out of the 2 McNeil horses.

Only just getting into gear after 3 and a half miles. Scottish National is the right race for him

[ToniC]

I would fancy The Wolf out of the 2 McNeil horses.

Same, got the profile of a typical winner for me. Not sure I’ll back kiltealy but would have backed him

[doctorwu]

Only just getting into gear after 3 and a half miles. Scottish National is the right race for him

stayed on in 3.2m cheltenham chase finishing 2nd. It was getting into gear a bit earlier than 3.4m.........

[Quevega]

stayed on in 3.2m cheltenham chase finishing 2nd. It was getting into gear a bit earlier than 3.4m.........

He's like Buywise.
I like him but he's always running on when the high fives have been had.
So maybe further would help.
Not sure Ayr suits though.

[doctorwu]

He's like Buywise.
I like him but he's always running on when the high fives have been had.
So maybe further would help.
Not sure Ayr suits though.

I agree. Defo place, but that's it.

[YoungHustler]

Added Kiltealy Briggs on the machine @ 27, thought that was too big. He's also entered in the Plate but Ella McNeill has said 'all roads lead to the Ultima', so happy taking a bigger price without NRNB. I was quite impressed with his run in behind BMG and Ahoy Senior at Kempton. Naturally we were all watching the front two, but I thought KB ran with real credit in behind. They went a proper Grade 1 pace and he travelled and jumped really well. AH hasn't touched him until after the second last where class ultimately prevailed and he wasn't given too tough a time. He was far from disgraced and if he were to win here it feels like the sort of run I'd watch back and say 'how did I miss that?'. I like the fact that he followed up at Musselburgh as it shows that race didn't take it out of him, and he ran well to beat an odds on shot where he ran from the front, turned it onto a test of stamina and won the stamina battle. I thought he ran really well in the Plate last year. He got into a lovely rhythm, jumped impeccably barring one mistake down the back straight and ultimately got done for toe and finished 9th. I think he's a player here back up in trip over 3m. Will probably back EW too, but as I said, thought that price was too big.

Jamie Snowden in today's RP about KB:

"He's in cracking form, great order," the 42-year-old added. "He's moving well, working well and jumping well.

"It's been the plan for a while and he ran well in the Plate last season, while going up to three miles again should suit as he's out of a sister to Ballabriggs, who won the National a few years ago.

"He's exciting. He ran in a bog at Sandown last season and it kind of pulled him apart, but he's bigger and stronger now. He had two colic operations after running in the Albert Bartlett in 2020, so didn't really have a summer then and we ran him only four times last season, but he's really come to himself as a second-season novice this term."

Snowden, who was a festival winner in 2014 when Present View won the novice handicap chase that no longer exists, added: "Frodon keeping the Ultima weights down means he's at the right end of them, but he's got to step forward. He's got a similar profile to Present View as an unexposed, improving novice while we run Stoney Mountain in the Pertemps on Thursday.

[Faugheen_Machine]

I would fancy The Wolf out of the 2 McNeil horses.

He was never put in the race last year, not sure if he missed the start but think he was always asking the last 2 or 3 before running on.

I think he will win a big race at some point.

Tea Clipper is top of my list at the moment. Likes good ground, is a novice, goes well fresh and has festival form. What's not to like?

Had a little of the 25s earlier.

[doctorwu]

He was never put in the race last year, not sure if he missed the start but think he was always asking the last 2 or 3 before running on.

I think he will win a big race at some point.

Tea Clipper is top of my list at the moment. Likes good ground, is a novice, goes well fresh and has festival form. What's not to like?

Had a little of the 25s earlier.

Doesn't meet the 3m RPR stat. Good luck with him.