The ULTIMA Handicap Chase

[Scooby91]

if anyone really fancies him and thinks he's well ahead of his mark, they may want to back him in 3 races NRNB. the RSA. ultima, and NH chase

[Tangodelta]

I keep looking at Kildisart for this. He’s on the same mark he was on this time last year and if he gets a run in before the festival he could get his mark down a couple of pounds. Strikes me he is having the same prep he had last year before having a crack at this race

[ComplyOrDie]

I keep looking at Kildisart for this. He’s on the same mark he was on this time last year and if he gets a run in before the festival he could get his mark down a couple of pounds. Strikes me he is having the same prep he had last year before having a crack at this race

He's out for the season.

[Joleg]

The decision on whether The Conditional runs here or in the Gold Cup will be made after The Denman on Saturday

Source - The Yard

[Kevloaf]

The decision on whether The Conditional runs here or in the Gold Cup will be made after The Denman on Saturday

Source - The Yard

Well that's not a fun confirmation as a backer for the Ultima, at all.


I started off with the reasons why it's negative and it's taking too long.... in fact, I'll list the number of positives I can think of:

• the

[Nortons who]

Well that's not a fun confirmation as a backer for the Ultima, at all.


I started off with the reasons why it's negative and it's taking too long.... in fact, I'll list the number of positives I can think of:

• the

Re the Conditional, in reality what else would you expect them to say? They obviously still consider him to be sufficiently talented to at least prove he is good enough for the Gold Cup. If he wins or goes close then in an open year they will surely take up the GC entry.

Best outcome if you want him here is that he runs well on Saturday but not that well. He then proves his well being for this and could still go to Cheltenham with a fighting chance, given course form etc.

[Kevloaf]

Re the Conditional, in reality what else would you expect them to say? They obviously still consider him to be sufficiently talented to at least prove he is good enough for the Gold Cup. If he wins or goes close then in an open year they will surely take up the GC entry.

Best outcome if you want him here is that he runs well on Saturday but not that well. He then proves his well being for this and could still go to Cheltenham with a fighting chance, given course form etc.

It's not about what I expect them to say, it's about what I want from a horse in a handicap.

If he runs in the Ultima, it's fair to think he has nothing in hand, as he'll have tried his little best in the Denman.


I don't really generally have an issue with top weights or high weights if I believe they can run to that rating, so he'll be "in the mix" however, I'd prefer them to have been targetting the Ultima, getting his mark down.


I'm not knocking them for going for the Gold Cup if they do either, fair play, it just means it was a bad bet ante post for the handicap regardless of what happens really!

[HoldenTheReins]

This race is a mess, can't make sense of what will be running or anything.

[Istabraq]

This race is a mess, can't make sense of what will be running or anything.

I’ve had a feeling for a while there’ll be novices looking to avoid the hotpots in the G1s so we could well find a few more novices landing in the handicaps, just to complicate things even more....

[Kevloaf]

This race is a mess, can't make sense of what will be running or anything.

To be fair, 2 weeks until entries and 3 weeks until weights, so you're not alone.

[FinalFurlong91]

I’ve had a feeling for a while there’ll be novices looking to avoid the hotpots in the G1s so we could well find a few more novices landing in the handicaps, just to complicate things even more....

All 5 handicap chases were won by novices last year werent they

[Lobos]

All 5 handicap chases were won by novices last year werent they

Indeed they were. Good stat.

[Istabraq]

All 5 handicap chases were won by novices last year werent they

It’s been discussed in here several times but it’s an issue that’s been building for a few years, my point is that if the novices run scared of the G1s unless their marks prevent them from getting in there could be a larger than normal number in the handicaps...

[doctorwu]

This race is a mess, can't make sense of what will be running or anything.

Its always the same at this juncture HTR. It will become clear shortly

[Saxon Warrior]

No-one knows what’s going on until the entries are in.

Only 10 sleeps.