The ULTIMA Handicap Steeplechase

[PlateHunter]

The Ultima has been the plan from day 1 this season and the Family sponsor the race so I can't see them changing their minds now. Hopefully Kings horses are all over the bug they've had in the yard now.

Ella said they would send the horse to the right race for him. For me the Ultima is a bit of a square peg, round hole job. Understand the Ultima connection but surely they start him in softer waters over 2m4F and then Ultima becomes an option for 2026. I know Novices are 6/11 for the Ultima but they have typically been campaigned at 3m+ not 2m4f.

[PlateHunter]

King in the weekender today says his Ultima horse will be that Graduer or however you spell it and that the Mcneill horse will be over middle distance later in the week.

I love the week before Cheltenham!

[Lobos]

You’re mistaken there. I know that the plan last week was very unlikely to go to ultima. Now, sadly Niall has passed, but I don’t believe that the plans have changed

Very sad. Maybe his passing has made them rethink plans seeing as they do sponsor the race ? Be poignant if he won it.

[archie]

Malina Girl, Masaccio and Grandeur D'Ame all confirmed at the 6 day stage.

[Lobos]

Grandeur D'Ame never ran beyond 21f. Perhaps the Plate a better fit ??

[Lobos]

Malina Girl, Masaccio and Grandeur D'Ame all confirmed at the 6 day stage.

Cheers Arch.

[ComplyOrDie]

Conflated (IRE)
Ga Law (FR)
Trelawne
Farouk d'Alene (FR)
Broadway Boy (IRE)
Zanahiyr (IRE)
Stay Away Fay (IRE)
Victtorino (FR)
Search For Glory (IRE)
Henry's Friend (IRE)
Masaccio (IRE)
La Malmason (IRE)
Sequestered (IRE)
Famous Bridge (IRE)
Richmond Lake (IRE)
Malina Girl (IRE)
The Changing Man (IRE)
Happygolucky (IRE)
King Turgeon (FR)
Grandeur d'Ame (FR)
Gelino Bello (FR)
Crebilly (IRE)
Katate Dori (FR)
Whistle Stop Tour (IRE)
Frero Banbou (FR)
Guard Your Dreams
The Short Go (IRE)
Pats Fancy (IRE)
Myretown (IRE)
Straw Fan Jack
Iris Emery (FR)

[ComplyOrDie]

The Short Go needs 3 to come out, to get in, Myretown needs 5 to come out to get in.

[Kevloaf]

One of the angles I like, in handicaps in particular, is looking back at the previous festival for horses that were well backed last year, and are much bigger prices coming back to the race the year after - looking at why they're so much bigger now than then - what went wrong, are they being overlooked?

Trelawne went off 5/1 2F in the Ultima and fell, 2 fences out – way too early to comment on how he’d have done but what has he done since to make him 5 times the price now?

He didn’t run again that season, so first run this year he beat Iroko half-a-length, who is classy and one of the Grand National favourites, as well as just finishing up being the G1 winning Grey Dawning

Next time out he was 4^th, giving 9lbs to Victtorino (beaten 9.75L) with The Changing Man 2^nd (0.5L behind) giving him 17lbs – he meets Vicctorino now just 3lbs worse off, so a 6lbs swing and The Changing Man also 5lbs better off with and he’s one of the favourites for the race, albeit TCM is well handicapped still on that specific run

His last run wasn’t as good, at Haydock in soft, but back at Cheltenham (where let’s not forget he’s also finished beaten less than 4L by Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning in 3^rd I’m happy to speculate the track is no issue for him


I think 25/1 NRNB is over priced at the moment – he may well end up bigger or the same price with more places so I’ll going to back now with a view to backing again – but I think he’s really being underestimated here.

He’s hardly been poor this season and was 5/1, he’s now 25/1 – all aboard the Trelawne train



I'll also consider Famous Bridge who placed 4th last year, off 3lb higher, but for the same owner who won it with Vintage Clouds at 28/1 after the previous year being a shorter price and also placed but was higher the following season

[Pisto]

The Short Go needs 3 to come out, to get in, Myretown needs 5 to come out to get in.

Conflated going XC ? Would be 1 out if so

[ComplyOrDie]

Conflated going XC ? Would be 1 out if so

Yep, I can see 3 or 4 at least that I expect to not go to the Ultima.

[Faugheen_Machine]

One of the angles I like, in handicaps in particular, is looking back at the previous festival for horses that were well backed last year, and are much bigger prices coming back to the race the year after - looking at why they're so much bigger now than then - what went wrong, are they being overlooked?

Trelawne went off 5/1 2F in the Ultima and fell, 2 fences out – way too early to comment on how he’d have done but what has he done since to make him 5 times the price now?

He didn’t run again that season, so first run this year he beat Iroko half-a-length, who is classy and one of the Grand National favourites, as well as just finishing up being the G1 winning Grey Dawning

Next time out he was 4^th, giving 9lbs to Victtorino (beaten 9.75L) with The Changing Man 2^nd (0.5L behind) giving him 17lbs – he meets Vicctorino now just 3lbs worse off, so a 6lbs swing and The Changing Man also 5lbs better off with and he’s one of the favourites for the race, albeit TCM is well handicapped still on that specific run

His last run wasn’t as good, at Haydock in soft, but back at Cheltenham (where let’s not forget he’s also finished beaten less than 4L by Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning in 3^rd I’m happy to speculate the track is no issue for him


I think 25/1 NRNB is over priced at the moment – he may well end up bigger or the same price with more places so I’ll going to back now with a view to backing again – but I think he’s really being underestimated here.

He’s hardly been poor this season and was 5/1, he’s now 25/1 – all aboard the Trelawne train



I'll also consider Famous Bridge who placed 4th last year, off 3lb higher, but for the same owner who won it with Vintage Clouds at 28/1 after the previous year being a shorter price and also placed but was higher the following season

Hope it was you that snaffled the 60.0 on betfair, and not a lurker

[punterorplonker]

Did Ben Pauling say something funny about Henrys friend last night at the Tote preview? Something about "Ben knowing what he wanted" or something interesting.

[simplythebetts]

punterorplonker I was there and he don't think he said that, when he was asked about his own horses he tipped up No Questions Asked in handicaps. For Henry's Friend he just said it had good chances but didn't seem overly confident.

[Eggs]

punterorplonker I was there and he don't think he said that, when he was asked about his own horses he tipped up No Questions Asked in handicaps. For Henry's Friend he just said it had good chances but didn't seem overly confident.

….any mention of Pic Roc?