The ULTIMA Handicap Chase

[Lobos]

With last year's 1st, 2nd and 4th maybe all not turning up for this, can it finally be Discorama's year ? I hope so. He deserves a big one.

[Kevloaf]

With last year's 1st, 2nd and 4th maybe all not turning up for this, can it finally be Discorama's year ? I hope so. He deserves a big one.

Is he fit and well?

The 14/1 NRNB isn't enticing....

....but 25/1 with 365 is, as long as he's on track....

[Lobos]

Is he fit and well?

The 14/1 NRNB isn't enticing....

....but 25/1 with 365 is, as long as he's on track....

I don't know Kev. I know they were talking GN so perhaps keeping him fresh. Ultima then GN.

[Grand Canyon]

Nolan has stated before he didnt want to really run him off top weight in handicaps in Ireland on bottomless ground.
Seemed to think thats why he runs well at cheltenham as the ground never gets as bad as in Ireland.
and he'd be running 10 - 20 pounds wrong in graded races.
Deffo one i'll be backing Lobos.

[Lobos]

Nolan has stated before he didnt want to really run him off top weight in handicaps in Ireland on bottomless ground.
Seemed to think thats why he runs well at cheltenham as the ground never gets as bad as in Ireland.
and he'd be running 10 - 20 pounds wrong in graded races.
Deffo one i'll be backing Lobos.

Very good point re ground. I've already backed him TWAR what seems years ago now but will definitely be including him in my Ew cross doubles during the week. He's a proper festival favourite.

[Kevloaf]

Ah go on, I'll chance him.

25/1 with 365 is fair enough isn't it.


The deciding factor was Kildisart is 22/1 with them and I know he's not running

[ComplyOrDie]

With last year's 1st, 2nd and 4th maybe all not turning up for this, can it finally be Discorama's year ? I hope so. He deserves a big one.

Yep, I think he's been mentioned a couple of times already by others, his festival form makes him a place prospect at least, and from what I can gather he had a small excuse last season too (lost a shoe I believe), and still managed 3rd in the race. I had just started adding him with freebies, but think I may need to get cash down sooner rather than later if the forum begins a charge on him

[Hurdles or chasing]

Was there anything ever said for his really poor run the last time at Cheltenham?

[Nortons who]

Was there anything ever said for his really poor run the last time at Cheltenham?

Those of us on here who fancied him for a handicap thought it was an excellent run

[ComplyOrDie]

Was there anything ever said for his really poor run the last time at Cheltenham?

No, but I can find some excuse for it, firstly the tactics, the jockey, albeit an experienced one, had never ridden the horse before, and for me it was a pretty obvious ride to get him beat. He's generally at his best when held up, but on this day the jockey decided to take a lead with him after the 6th and raced wide the second half of the race. The jockey noted that the horse ran too free. If a horse is running free, then you want to preserve as much energy as possible by going the shortest route on the inside and not taking a wide course, or at least that's how I would have seen it.

Secondly, the horses best form is either his first run of any season, where his figures read 2-1-1-2-2 or in the Spring (notably the festival), where his form reads 2-2-3. His form outside of these times reads 2-3-7-5-5-F-2-8-3-5, and even though there are some placed efforts among them figures, the majority of the time he has been well beat in them races.

[Pendil]

Paul Nolan 2020/21 season

Hurdles. 5 wins 112 runs
Chase. 1 win. 36 runs
NHF. 0 win. 21 runs
Personally I wouldn't back a Nolans runner until I saw improvement in the yard
Oh and 13 runs and 29 days since last winner

[The King Pimm]

I’ve got a few covered for this with the plan of covering 6 in total. My tactic is backing UK horses as this is a rare race they have dominated at the Festival over the past decade. 2nd season novices and horses horses near the top of the weights also have a good record in this race (from my memory!!).

Covered already:
Canelo 28/1 ew
Aye Right 28/1 e/w

Planning to back Cloth Cap and The Conditional at some point soon. I was considering Two For Gold but he hasn’t raced that much left handed and has performed better at right handed tracks which put me off him. Another horse I will back if there is any mention he may be aimed at the Ultima is If The Cap Fits. Like Beware the Bear a tactic of being held up at the back alongside the likes of Discorama and produced late may be ideal for a horse like him who is guaranteed to stay the distance.

Othee horses backed
Happy Go Lucky 25/1 ew TWAR
Discorama 25/1 ew TWAR

[Viking Flagship]

I know he's had a good mention already for the Kim Muir but I've just backed Farclas at 25/1 NRNB for this. I'd be surprised if he could get in the Kim Muir under the threshold - which would leave here or the Plate. If I could get 25s NRNB for the Plate I'd take that too, but only 16s there which looks a bit tight.

Not declared for the Thyestes on Thursday but there's a possibility they'd go to the big mid-trip handicap at DRF. As a former festival winner I'll be surprised if they aren't eyeing something at Cheltenham and whilst I realise Gordon doesn't have much of a track record in the Ultima, it's surely only a matter of time before that record is improved. This horse is still only a 7yo and is unexposed over longer trips & as a chaser - 25s NRNB is a bet for me.

[Kevloaf]

I know he's had a good mention already for the Kim Muir but I've just backed Farclas at 25/1 NRNB for this. I'd be surprised if he could get in the Kim Muir under the threshold - which would leave here or the Plate. If I could get 25s NRNB for the Plate I'd take that too, but only 16s there which looks a bit tight.

Not declared for the Thyestes on Thursday but there's a possibility they'd go to the big mid-trip handicap at DRF. As a former festival winner I'll be surprised if they aren't eyeing something at Cheltenham and whilst I realise Gordon doesn't have much of a track record in the Ultima, it's surely only a matter of time before that record is improved. This horse is still only a 7yo and is unexposed over longer trips & as a chaser - 25s NRNB is a bet for me.

Just going back 10 years:

2011 - no runner
2012 - no runner
2013 - no runner
2014 - no runner
2015 - no runner
2016 - no runner
2017 - Noble Endeavour (3rd at 15/2) and Clarcam (9th at 50/1)
2018 - no runner
2019 - Noble Endeavour (10th and 14/1) and General Principle (PU at 14/1)
2020 - Elwood (Fell at 18/1)



I completely agree about the trend being unlikely to last, it makes no sense at all that Gordon hasn't mopped up in this race like all the other.


Only one horse has gone off bigger than 25/1, and Farclas surely wouldn't?

I can see the upside, although more likely money back than a single figure runner...but worth a poke to me too.

[Madmoose]

I know he's had a good mention already for the Kim Muir but I've just backed Farclas at 25/1 NRNB for this. I'd be surprised if he could get in the Kim Muir under the threshold - which would leave here or the Plate. If I could get 25s NRNB for the Plate I'd take that too, but only 16s there which looks a bit tight.

Not declared for the Thyestes on Thursday but there's a possibility they'd go to the big mid-trip handicap at DRF. As a former festival winner I'll be surprised if they aren't eyeing something at Cheltenham and whilst I realise Gordon doesn't have much of a track record in the Ultima, it's surely only a matter of time before that record is improved. This horse is still only a 7yo and is unexposed over longer trips & as a chaser - 25s NRNB is a bet for me.

Great case for nrnb so have followed, just watched his run at Xmas and it was really eye catching as he stays on again towards the end, uk will bump him up further so won't be running in the Kim muir and this seems the most likely race, hopefully coko beach goes the plate, run wild Fred the Kim muir and farclas here.