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Ultima Handicap Chase Tips & Predictions

Ultima Handicap Chase Tips

The Ultima Handicap Chase (also known as the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase) is the first handicap race at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. It is the third race on day one of the meeting, and it is run over 3m1f on the Old Course at Prestbury Park.

Corach Rambler landed this prize in 2023, while other former winners include Rough Quest (1995), Wichita Lineman (2009) and Vintage Clouds (2021).

Ultima Handicap Chase Betting Odds

This year’s renewal is set to feature the maximum number of 24 horses. Sam Brown is the highest-rated runner in the entries, Corach Rambler is looking to become just the fourth horse in history to prevail in the race twice, while trainer David Pipe is bidding for a record-matching fourth success as a trainer when he saddles Remastered.

Most Successful Horse: Four Horses (2 wins)

Most Successful Jockey: Roberton Thornton & Tom Scudamore (3 Wins)

Most Successful Trainer: Fred Rimell & Fulke Walwyn (4 wins)

2.50 - Ultima Handicap Chase 2024 Tip (3m1f)

There has been plenty of hype surrounding the Irish runners heading the Ultima market, but Dun Doire was the last Irish winner of this race in 2006 and the prize can stay in Britain and head to connections of WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT.

He was sent off a short price for a Grade 1 novice hurdle last campaign and his season has seemingly been geared around a tilt at this race. Chianti Classico ran a lovely trial for this at Kempton when Kim Bailey’s horses weren’t firing and is next best.

Selection: Weveallbeencaught

Tips for winning the Ultima Handicap Chase

Unfortunately, picking the winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase is exceedingly difficult. Many tend to back the favourite; however, in the last twenty races, the favourite has only won twice and finished in the each way positions 9 times. So, less than 50% of the time, backing the favourite will lead to any win at all. In-fact, most of the trends for this race are exceedingly small, such as all of the last twenty winners have made 3-10 starts over the last year, in regards to horse racing betting, those trends aren't helpful to us at all.

However, there are a small number of trends that do prove useful, including:

  • 13/17 previous winners were aged seven, eight or ten.
  • 11/17 previous winners were rated 142+
  • 16/17 previous winners had run at Cheltenham before.
  • 16/16 previous winners had won over three miles previously.

When using these Ultima Handicap Chase trends, you may be able to narrow the field and pick the best horse for betting on Cheltenham Festival races such as the 2024 Ultima Handicap Chase.

What markets are best for tips on the Ultima Handicap Chase?

As previously mentioned, it is notoriously difficult to bet on the Ultima Handicap Chase due to the large field and the fact that winning favourites tend to underperform at the race. Last year's winner Corach Rambler came in at odds of 10/1 and usually we find odds of similar value or higher end up being victorious in this race.

With this in mind, our tip regarding bet types is the each way betting market. We believe that a course winner here is too difficult of a bet, if it comes off, it'll provide fantastic value but the field is simply - too big. Therefore, backing a horse each-way provides you with a better chance of finding a winner in this race.

Ultima Handicap Chase FAQs

Who has won the Ultima Handicap Chase?

In recent years, there have been a number of shock winners in the Ultima Handicap Chase, find the horses who have previously won this event below.

YearWinnerTrainer & Jockey
2023Corach RamblerDerek Fox & Lucinda Russell
2022Corach RamblerDerek Fox & Lucinda Russell
2021Vintage CloudsRyan Mania & Sue Smith
2020The ConditionalBrendan Powell Jr & David Bridgwater
2019Beware the BearJeremiah McGrath & Nicky Henderson
2018Coo Star SivolaLizzie Kelly & Nick Williams

Are there any other names for the Ultima Handicap Chase?

You may recognise the Ultima Handicap Chase by another name as it is also touted as the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase.

When is the Ultima Handicap Chase?

The first handicap race of the Cheltenham Festival is the Ultima Handicap Chase, starting at 14:50 on Tuesday 12th March.

What distance is the Ultima Handicap Chase?

Run on the Old Course, the Ultima Handicap Chase has a distance of 3 miles and 1 furlong, this is the equivalent of 5,029 metres.

What is the prize money for the Ultima Handicap Chase?

The total purse for the 2024 Ultima Handicap Chase is £125,000 with the winner of the race taking home £70,338.

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