Ultima Handicap Chase Predictions, Betting Tips & Odds (Cheltenham 2024 - DAY 1)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
The Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase is run over 3 miles and one furlong. The race is open to 5 year olds and over, and involves 20 fences. It is the first big handicap of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival meeting and will as always be an ultra competitive race. The 2023 renewal saw Corach Rambler winning the Ultima Chase for a second year in a row for trainer Lucinda Russell, at odds of 6/1. Don't miss our Ultima Handicap Chase race preview with free predictions, tips, betting trends, best odds, free bets and no deposit bonuses on the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
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ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE BETTING PREVIEW
Formerly the William Hill Handicap Chase, the Ultima Handicap Chase is run over 3 miles at Cheltenham and there are 20 fences for the field to jump around the old course at Prestbury Park. It's a Grade 3 handicap chase, for horses aged five and upwards, where many of the top handicappers come together, producing a thrilling race. The prize fund is around £125,000.
Many horses will arrive looking well handicapped making it very hard to predict the winner. Furthermore, some of the previous winners have carried big weights to victory.
And now we take a closer look at this year's Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
Last year's Ultima Handicap probably saw the birth of another horse racing legend. CORACH RAMBLER sliced his way through the field in the closing stages to successfully defend his crown before landing the following month’s Grand National at Aintree. Corach Rambler has been entered here again, but looks more likely to run in the Gold Cup.
As a result this year's favourite for the Ultima Handicap Chase is THE GOFFER, who finished fourth in last year’s renewal.
Willie Mullins' MEETINGOFTHEWATERS has won two from five starts over fences, and was impressive when landing victory over an extended three miles at Leopardstown in the Paddy Power Chase. He was last seen when unseated his rider at the Dublin Racing Festival over two miles and five in early February.
Last year's Kim Muir runner-up, STUMPTOWN sits prominently in the betting following an impressive win here at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, while Grand National entrant and last year's third MONBEG GENIUS is also well supported by racing punters.
CHIANTI CLASSICO has been put up by a handful of good judges and he has obvious claims while MIDNIGHT RIVER ran a big race when coming down in this season’s Coral Gold Cup and he remains fairly unexposed as a staying handicap chaser.
WEHAVEALLBEENCAUGHT has gained experience with three course runs this season, but ultimately hasn't kicked-on after a promising chase debut here.
TRELAWNE won three of his first four starts over hurdles, and enjoyed a successful debut over fences after eight months off at Carlisle. He finished third in a three-runner Novices' Chase last month at Exeter. He will be ridden by Harry Cobden.
Ruby Walsh's Ultima Handicap Chase Tips
Trelawne (Winner)
8/1Bet
Dark Horses?
MONBEG GENIUS won three handicaps at Newcastle and Chepstow before ending the campaign with an excellent third in this race last year. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained horse also finished third in the Gold Cup in December.
VICTTORINO won twice at Ascot at the back end of last year, before being outpaced at Cheltenham by Ga Law two months ago. The ex-French chaser has since responded with a good performance at Ascot few weeks ago.
MINELLA CROONER pulled up in the National Hunt Cup here twelve months ago. The eight-year-old made a winning return in a four-runner listed chase at Wexford, but has since failed to impress.
THe veteran LORD DU MESNIL hasn't been successful in over three years. The 11-year-old finished fourth in a veteran's event at Exeter last month, and his form in generally consistent.
ELDORADO ALLEN was a classy anymal back in the days. He recently finished fourth in the Gold Cup at Newbury and has a two-mile victory at Cheltenham on his CV, however that was over three years ago.
Ben Pauling's nine-year-old TWIG enjoyed back-to-back wins at Uttoxeter in May and July last year, before finishing second at Cheltenham in October. However, he was comfortably beaten by 26 lengths at Newbury in December against some of the runners in this race.
Other possible runners with good chances to make the frame are EKLAT DE RIRE, EXCELLO, FAMOUS BRIDGE, RUN WIL FRED and KITTY'S LIGHT.
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
All the bookmakers we recommend are offering No Runner No Bet on every Cheltenham Festival race.
ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE TRENDS
- Only 3 of the last 28 favourites won
- Only four horses have triumphed in the last 20 seasons above odds of 14/1
- Only 1 of the last 24 winners were the top weight
- 16 of the last 17 winners had previously placed in a race around Cheltenham
- 9 of the past 19 winners came into the race on the back of a win
- 5 of the last 17 winners had run in the previous year’s renewal
- 11 of the last 17 winners were rated 142 or more
- 9 of the last 12 winners wore headgear
- 13 of the last 20 winners were aged either 7 or 8
ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE PREDICTIONS
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ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE FAQs
What is the distance of the Ultima Handicap Chase?
The Ultima Handicap Chase is run on a distance of 3 miles and 1 furlong
How many obstacles are jumped in the Ultima Handicap Chase?
There are 20 fences to jump for the Ultima Handicap Chase runners
What time is the Ultima Handicap Chase?
The Ultima Handicap Chase is the 3rd race run on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Tuesday March 12, 2024 and the official starting time is 2:50pm.
What is the prize money for the Ultima Handicap Chase?
The total prize money on offer for the Ultima Festival Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival will be £125,000.
Who won the Ultima Handicap Chase last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Corach Rambler at SP of 6/1f, trained by Lucinda Russell and ridden by Derek Fox.
What weights are carried for the Ultima Handicap Chase?
10st - 11st 12lb (handicap).
Who is the leading jockey in the Ultima Handicap Chase?
Tom Scudamore is more successful than any other jockey in the race in recent times, with three winners since 2008 (all for trainer David Pipe) and five places overall. He ended his glorious career last year. Robert Thornton also has three wins, but the most recent came courtesy of Fort Lightning in 2004. Derek Fox has won the last two renewals on the plucky Corach Rambler.
Who is the leading trainer in the Ultima Handicap Chase?
The last 17 winners were trained in Britain. With 3 winners each, David Pipe and Jonjo O'Neill have the best record in the race. Lucinda Russell has won the last two renewals with Corach Rambler
