The Ultima Handicap Chase is a Grade 3 race, run on the Old Course with runners having to jump a total of 19 fences. It’s always hard to pick a winner in this race, with many of winners being double figure prices.
The winners of the Festival Handicap Chase often go on to run in the Grand National, with a few horses winning both races. Jonjo O’Neill has a great record in this race in recent years, in the 8 runnings since 2009 he has won 3 of them.
When betting on this race it is important to look for a horse who is proven over this trip, as stamina can often let horses down in this race.
2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase (ITV/RTV)
Type: Grade 3 Handicap Steeplechase Race
Distance: 3m 1/2f
Age: 5 year olds +
Weight: Handicap
Allowances: Handicap
Prize Fund: £110,000
2010-2019 Quick Read Stats
Tuesday 10 March
Cheltenham (Old Course) 2.50: Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (5yo+) 3m1f (ITV)
Trainers
- Jonjo O’Neill and David Pipe have both trained two winners of the race in the last 10 years, the latter with dual winner Un Temps Pour Tout
- There has not been an Irish winner in the past 10 runnings
Age
- 8yo winners: 4
- 7yo: 2
- 9yo: 2
- 6yo: 1
- 10yo: 1
Weight and Official Rating
- Six winner had weight of between 10st and 11st3b
- Six winners had a rating of between 142 and 148
SPs
- Only one favourite (5/1) has won in the past 10 years
- Six winners returned a double-digit SP, ranging from 10/1 to 33/1
Form Summaries
- All winners had previously run at Cheltenham, five had won
- Nine winners had previously won at least one chase
- Seven winners had won over the distance
- Seven winners had won in the same season
- Five winners were having their fifth race of the season
- Four of the last five winners ran their preceding race at Cheltenham