2023 Ultima Handicap Chase

[Istabraq]

TO CLOSE BY NOON ON FEBRUARY 21st CHELTENHAM
Tuesday, March 14th THE ULTIMA HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) TOTAL RACE VALUE ?125,000 Distributed in accordance with the Stakes and Prize Money Code ?70,337 to the winning horse
The second to receive ?26,500
the third ?13,262
the fourth ?6,625
the fifth ?3,325
the sixth ?1,662
the seventh ?825
the eighth ?425 for fve yrs old and upwards
THREE MILES ABOUT ONE FURLONG (3m 1f) Enter by noon, February 21st and pay ?155 stake Confrm by noon, March 8th and pay ?470 Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 12th Weights published on .................................................. ...............................................Feb ruary 28th
Penalties, after February 26th, 2023, a winner of a steeple chase............................................. ..... 5lb (No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 12st)
PLEASE NOTE: A novice horse shall only be qualifed to run in this race if it has run a minimum of three times in Steeple Chases in Great Britain, Ireland or France in accordance with paragraph 15 of the Weights and Handicapping Code

2022 1st OR 140, 2nd OR 138, 3rd OR 138, 4th OR 145 (High OR 164, Low OR 138) 24 ran
2021 1st OR 143, 2nd OR 147, 3rd OR 154, 4th OR 158 (High OR 158, Low OR 132) 16 ran
2020 1st OR 139, 2nd OR 150, 3rd OR 148, 4th OR 159 (High OR 159, Low OR 133). 23 ran
2019 1st OR 151, 2nd OR 144, 3rd OR 155, 4th OR 140 (High OR 155, Low OR 140). 24 ran
2018 1st OR 142, 2nd OR 152, 3rd OR 131, 4th OR 150 (High OR 155, Low OR 137). 18 ran
2017 1st OR 155, 2nd OR 142, 3rd OR 154, 4th OR 145 (High OR 155, Low OR 134). 23 ran
2016 1st OR 148, 2nd OR 153, 3rd OR 149, 4th OR 150 (High OR 153, Low OR 131). 23 ran
2015 1st OR 146, 2nd OR 143, 3rd OR 134, 4th OR 139 (High OR 155, Low OR 133). 24 ran
2014 1st OR 145, 2nd OR 143, 3rd OR 131, 4th OR 143 (High OR 151, Low OR 129). 23 ran
2013 1st OR 132, 2nd OR 145, 3rd OR 132, 4th OR 133 (High OR 153, Low OR 132). 24 ran

[Kevloaf]

5th Feb 2023

[Speedy17]

Into Overdrive a standout for me, trainer has confirmed it's the target, form with L'Homme Presse and Sounds Russian reads very well.

[Kevloaf]

Into Overdrive a standout for me, trainer has confirmed it's the target, form with L'Homme Presse and Sounds Russian reads very well.

The favourite.



Is Jamie Hamilton going to ride a Cheltenham Festival winner, at single figures, for Mark Walford? On his first ever visit to Cheltenham?




Form looks fucking great though, I agree. If he was 100/1 I promise you I'd be giving you a back rub.



Has someone tipped him on here and I've just missed it .... because if not I'm annoyed at you all.

[Outlaw]

Into Overdrive a standout for me, trainer has confirmed it's the target, form with L'Homme Presse and Sounds Russian reads very well.

Well clipped in after trials day(20/16s to 12/10s by the Monday) with Owner confirming here then the Scottish national I believe. No course form a nag but hard to knock this years form although unsure how much shorter he can get over the next 4 weeks now.

[ComplyOrDie]

Into Overdrive a standout for me, trainer has confirmed it's the target, form with L'Homme Presse and Sounds Russian reads very well.

Happygolucky must be in your sights too if that form line with L'Homme Presse is looked at?

12lbs difference that day, but now only 5lbs should they meet, so a 7lb swing in Happygoluckys favour for 3 length defeat on that day.

Double the price too.

Happygolucky has race experience too and returning horses to this race can and have gone well in the past.

[Speedy17]

The favourite.



Is Jamie Hamilton going to ride a Cheltenham Festival winner, at single figures, for Mark Walford? On his first ever visit to Cheltenham?




Form looks fucking great though, I agree. If he was 100/1 I promise you I'd be giving you a back rub.



Has someone tipped him on here and I've just missed it .... because if not I'm annoyed at you all.

I got 16s NRNB so I'm happy. Sorry for pointing out the obvious, just an opinion!

[Speedy17]

Happygolucky must be in your sights too if that form line with L'Homme Presse is looked at?

12lbs difference that day, but now only 5lbs should they meet, so a 7lb swing in Happygoluckys favour for 3 length defeat on that day.

Double the price too.

Happygolucky has race experience too and returning horses to this race can and have gone well in the past.

He would but I'm sure I've read Kim Bailey saying they weren't going to go to Cheltenham this year? I'm still a bit heartbroken from 2021!!

[ComplyOrDie]

He would but I'm sure I've read Kim Bailey saying they weren't going to go to Cheltenham this year? I'm still a bit heartbroken from 2021!!

Ah fair enough mate. I haven't seen that. Backed him NRNB so no drama if he doesn't turn up but I hope he does.

[Kevloaf]

I got 16s NRNB so I'm happy. Sorry for pointing out the obvious, just an opinion!

Nice.... can't knock it at all!

Just too short now this far out for me...

Not really got anything against it right now though, but not started looking yet!



....and no need to pretend to be offended.... 112 posts but you must have been around long enough to know me and that it's never personal ... unless it's Lobos.

[Speedy17]

Nice.... can't knock it at all!

Just too short now this far out for me...

Not really got anything against it right now though, but not started looking yet!



....and no need to pretend to be offended.... 112 posts but you must have been around long enough to know me and that it's never personal ... unless it's Lobos.

Not easily offended at all! I got a battering off a couple of people a few weeks back for knocking Facile Vega, so had a little smile today watching his race...

There's not just much else that appeals at this stage, at a bigger price Aye Right @ 33/1 is about the only other one I'd consider, he's on the same mark now as when he ran in the race 2 years ago finishing 3rd, I like the previously ran in the race trend, and he also ties in a little with the Into Overdrive form when he finished 4th last time out at Wetherby behind him, Infront of Topville Ben who ran well today in Ireland. But no idea if this is the target or not.

[Odin]

Threeunderthrufive has to be the obvious shout here. Has run in the two key English trials for the race (not so well in the Hennessey, but really nicely in the classic) and is owned by the sponsors. Has some course distance form and races prominently which I've always felt is important in this race. Just a shame his price reflects how obvious he is.

[nortonscoin200]

I've been struggling trying to find an English based horse at a price iIreally fancy for the Ultima.

I think a lot will depend on whether Frodon (or161) lines up again or not.

Haven't heard anything about Le Milos since the Hennessy - apart from Skelton aiming for Aintree - but if Frodon comes here and Le Milos turns up for a GN prep then he'd have a good chance off 152.

But if the head of the handicap is 156-158 I wouldn't be interested in Le Milos.

The others I was interested in are Our Power and Tea Clipper who are two more returners to consider. Both ran well (aged 7) last year. Tea Clipper is 33-1 in places but he's entered for the big Kempton handicap at the end of this month and afraid I'm not a great fan of Charlie Deutsch who rides Our Power (20-1).

The Cheltenham novice races which normally feed into the Ultima don't seem to have thrown up any candidates who look as though they're in need of the extra half mile.

And I'm fast coming to the conclusion that maybe the Ultima winner may reside in Ireland this year. So more swotting required on that score.

Also thinking that if Spectre is hoping to unearth a 40-1 Naiad in the Ultima this year he's got his work cut out.

And one more thought while I'm at it....

Was wondering if it would be fun/illuminating to set up a handicap thread in the members section where we spent 24-hours brain-storming one particular race......just for example, say we started with the Ultima.....we open the thread and say: "right from 8am this Tuesday till 8am on Wednesday anyone who's interested puts forward a horse (s) and makes a case (s) why its a good bet for this race. People can support the case/pick holes in the case/suggest other horses etc and we really concentrate on this one race and try to come up with a consensus to jump on a big price early. Then the following week we pick another handicap and give that one a 24-hour deep dive. Don't see why the idea would interfere/undermine the existing handicap threads because as we all know the landscape changes practically every day. But it would give members a chance to take part in a sort of written podcast-style problem-solving session on a weekly basis with a 24-hour deadline to concentrate everyone's mind. Maybe I'm in a minority of one in thinking this might work - in which case no worries, it was just an idea. But I had visions of our own little UTA style concentrated session to look forward to at a time (most of February and early March) when most of the Cheltenham players will not be running again before the Festival. What d'you reckon?

[Istabraq]

I've been struggling trying to find an English based horse at a price in really fancy for the Ultima.

Alot depends on how the Donnelly’s horses get shuffled but, on the assumption they send just one to the NH Chase, and that one being GDM, they have Ramilies and City Chief for the handicaps.
My personal feeling is that City Chief will be around 142 on Tuesday and I think the Kim Muir becomes attractive, but if they were to consider the Ultima I think he’d have a great chance.
Ramilies could also have a chance should they wish to send him that way but Mullins tends not to target handicap chases.
City Chief could be a live one…

[DenmanSacre]

Anyone know what's happened to Sail Away for Skelton?