Ultima Handicap Chase Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Cheltenham Festival)

Explore the history of this competitive 3-mile handicap chase. Analyze trends of past winners, examine key statistics, and gain insights into one of the Festival's toughest betting puzzles that kicks off day one.
Ultima Handicap Chase Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Cheltenham Festival)
Andy Powell
Andy Powell Content Editor

Horse Racing stats man, Andy has contributed to OLBG for 18 years - An Ipswich fan and F1 fanatic, he also contributes EFL football and Motor Sport opinion.

2025 Ultima Handicap Chase Preview

The Ultima Handicap Chase features on the opening day of the festival at the Cheltenham racecourse, it is also known as the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase. A 3m1f Handicap Chase normally run at a good speed and can, therefore, be a real test of stamina. The race often features past and future Grand National Runners.

Despite being a handicap this has been a good race for punters over the years with horses near the front of the market showing a good return. Below we highlight some key pointers, looking at trends and discussing the form to help you to find the winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase.

Dominate the Ultima Handicap Chase betting scene by leveraging our expert insights into previous race patterns and trainer stats, and don't forget to check out the free bets for Cheltenham.

Ultima Handicap Chase Information:

To see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are tipping throughout the card that includes this race, head over to the Cheltenham tips on the day of the race, do they agree with the runners on the trend shortlist or are they predicting other runners? We cover every race at the Cheltenham Festival and below you can find links to all of the races for each of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.

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How competitive is the Ultima Handicap Chase market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2021 when the race had an over-round of 122%. The race in 2023 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 138%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Ultima Handicap Chase, the over-round has been 129%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £129 which is bet.

Below you will find the 2025 Ultima Handicap Chase Trends, see which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal, we also have a section that looks at the Ultima Handicap Chase Trend Analysis.

These are the top three quickest-run Ultima Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals:

  1. Holywell (6:01.80) in 2014
  2. Alfie Sherrin (6:08.60) in 2012
  3. Kelami (6:08.60) in 2005

Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? From the past 20 if you had followed the winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase next time out then you would have backed a total of 2 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of -6.50. Ahead of the 2025 Ultima Handicap Chase why not head over to the racing predictions for tips on other races today?

Over the last 20 renewals, it was Holywell, trained by Jonjo O'Neill and ridden by Richie McLernon who set the fastest winning time in the Ultima Handicap Chase, the runner won the race in a time of 6:01.80 when winning the race in 2014. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer Kim Bailey and jockey David Bass with Chianti Classico who set the slowest winning time, the race-winning time was 6:55.79 in the 2024 renewal.

What the expert says...
Seven of the last eleven winners (2014-2024) went on to run at Aintree next time out including Corach Rambler who went on to win the 2023 Grand National.

Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com

Ultima Handicap Chase NRNB 11 Mar @ 14:40 - AntePost
Iroko 8.00
Masaccio 11.00
Hyland 13.00
Haiti Couleurs 15.00
Three Card Brag 15.00

Ultima Handicap Chase Past Winners

Here are the Ultima Handicap Chase past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won along with the age & weight of the horse. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Ultima Handicap Chase are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.

YearHorseInfo
2024
6:55.79
Chianti Classico (IRE)
7yo 11-4 6/1
David Bass
Kim Bailey (GB)
2023
6:30.55
Corach Rambler (IRE)
9yo 11-5 6/1F
Derek Fox
Lucinda Russell (GB)
2022
6:18.26
Corach Rambler (IRE)
8yo 10-2 10/1
Derek Fox
Lucinda Russell (GB)
2021
6:31.00
Vintage Clouds (IRE)
11yo 10-11 28/1
Ryan Mania
Sue Smith (GB)
2020
6:50.75
The Conditional (IRE)
8yo 10-6 15/2
Brendan Powell
David Bridgwater (GB)
2019
6:39.02
Beware The Bear (IRE)
9yo 11-8 10/1
Jeremiah McGrath
Nicky Henderson (GB)
2018
6:47.50
Coo Star Sivola (FR)
6yo 10-10 5/1F
Lizzie Kelly (3lbs)
Nick Williams (GB)
2017
6:20.00
Un Temps Pour Tout (IRE)
8yo 11-12 9/1
Tom Scudamore
David Pipe (GB)
2016
6:17.80
Un Temps Pour Tout (IRE)
7yo 11-7 11/1
Tom Scudamore
David Pipe (GB)
2015
6:19.20
The Druids Nephew (IRE)
8yo 11-3 8/1
Barry Geraghty
Neil Mulholland (GB)

Where have the winning runners come from?

Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Ultima Handicap Chase have been based:

  • GB: 17 winners with an additional 47 placings from 366 runners
  • FR: 2 winners with an additional 2 placings from 12 runners
  • IRE: 1 winner with an additional 10 placings from 49 runners

Ultima Handicap Chase Trainer Statistics

There are two leading trainers in the Ultima Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals with both Jonjo O'Neill and David Pipe who have both won the race three times. Jonjo O'Neill winners have been Wichita Lineman (2009), Alfie Sherrin (2012) and Holywell (2014). David Pipe winners have been with An Accordion (2008) and Un Temps Pour Tout (2016 & 2017). The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Ultima Handicap Chase is Lucinda Russell (2 wins). Multiple trainers have not had the best of times over the last 20 renewals in the Ultima Handicap Chase, Nigel Twiston-Davies (0-28), Venetia Williams (0-26), Paul Nicholls (0-18) and Gordon Elliott (0-12) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.

Here are some of the top Ultima Handicap Chase trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

TrainerR-W-PWinEW
Jonjo O'Neill21-3-6+11.00+6.88
David Pipe21-3-7+9.00+5.33
Lucinda Russell6-2-4+12.00+12.50
Nicky Henderson25-1-8-14.00+8.02
Sue Smith13-1-4+16.00+16.13
Alan King13-1-2-7.00-7.31
Neil Mulholland11-1-2-2.00-2.75
Kim Bailey7-1-3+0.00-0.14
A J Martin5-1-2+3.00+2.01
Nick Williams5-1-3+1.00+3.01

Ultima Handicap Chase Jockey Statistics

There are multiple leading jockeys in the Ultima Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals with Richie McLernon, Brendan Powell and Derek Fox having all won the race two times. Richie McLernon winners have been with Alfie Sherrin (2012) and Holywell (2014). Brendan Powell's winners have been with Golden Chieftain (2013) and The Conditional (2020). Derek Fox winners have been with Corach Rambler (2022 & 2023). There is one jockey who has not had the best of times in the Ultima Handicap Chase, Sam Twiston-Davies has ridden 12 runners to the race without recording any wins.

Here are some of the top Ultima Handicap Chase jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

JockeyR-W-PWinEW
Richie McLernon7-2-3+19.00+11.50
Brendan Powell5-2-2+32.50+19.19
Derek Fox4-2-3+14.00+12.00
David Bass7-1-3+0.00-0.14
Jeremiah McGrath3-1-2+8.00+6.50
Ryan Mania2-1-1+27.00+16.50
Sam Twiston-Davies12-0-0-12.00-12.00
Charlie Deutsch7-0-1-7.00-4.75
Nico de Boinville6-0-1-6.00-1.37
Harry Cobden6-0-1-6.00-2.75

Ultima Handicap Chase Trend Analysis

✅ The trend factor which had produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +52.50 is when runners had recorded 1 career fall.

❌ The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had a highest class run of Class 1 (G3), when backing these the trend shows a record of 0-77.

The course which has produced the most winners of the Ultima Handicap Chase is Cheltenham, there has been a total number of 4 winners of this race who ran at Cheltenham last time out. The next best courses which have produced the second most winners are Haydock and Doncaster, there has been a total number of 3 winners from each of those courses.

The race is open to both sexes with the Male runners having produced a total of 20 winners from a total of 420 runners whilst the Female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 7 runners.

Looking over the past renewals, these are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Ultima Handicap Chase:

  • Jeremy (2 Wins)
  • Kings Theatre (2 Wins)
  • Robin Des Champs (2 Wins)
  • Shantou (2 Wins)

These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase despite multiple attempts:

  • Flemensfirth (0 Wins from 16 runners)
  • Milan (0 Wins from 12 runners)
  • Oscar (0 Wins from 10 runners)
  • Presenting (0 Wins from 10 runners)
  • Old Vic (0 Wins from 9 runners)

Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Joes Edge in 2007, winning for Ferdy Murphy at odds of 50/1 under the guidance of Davy Russell. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals there have been 3 winning favourites in the race. Ahead of the 2025 Ultima Handicap Chase why not head over to the best racing tipster page to see what the tipsters are backing today?

Route to the Ultima Handicap Chase

Many trainers will target races to use as prep races before coming to the Ultima Handicap Chase, these are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:

InfoLast Race
2024 - Chianti Classico
Kempton - 2nd of 7 (9/4)
New Bet-In-Race With Coral Handicap Chase
2023 - Corach Rambler
Newbury - 4th of 15 (11/1)
Coral Gold Cup
2022 - Corach Rambler
Ascot - UR of 6 (16/5)
Bateaux London Reynoldstown Novices Chase
2021 - Vintage Clouds
Kelso - 3rd of 7 (19/2)
Edinburgh Gin Chase
2020 - The Conditional
Warwick - 4th of 13 (4/1)
Classic Chase
2019 - Beware The Bear
Cheltenham - 1st of 9 (7/2)
Join The Betbright Racing Club Handicap Chase
2018 - Coo Star Sivola
Exeter - 1st of 7 (6/4)
188Bet Cheltenham Festival Preview 6th March Chase
2017 - Un Temps Pour Tout
Cheltenham - 6th of 15 (20/1)
Cleeve Hurdle
2016 - Un Temps Pour Tout
Cheltenham - 4th of 12 (3/1)
Timeform Novices Handicap Chase
2015 - The Druids Nephew
Cheltenham - 5th of 6 (12/1)
Cleeve Hurdle

Schedule for Tuesday at the Cheltenham Festival

Prepare for the ROAR of the Cheltenham Festival on the opening day when the tape goes up for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, the feature on Tuesday is the Champion Hurdle.

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Supreme Novices Hurdle
Slade Steel (IRE)
6yo - 7/2
Henry De Bromhead
Rachael Blackmore
14:00 Cheltenham
Arkle Challenge Trophy
Gaelic Warrior (GER)
6yo - 2/1
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
14:40 Cheltenham
Ultima Handicap Chase
Chianti Classico (IRE)
7yo - 6/1
Kim Bailey
David Bass
15:20 Cheltenham
Close Brothers Mares Hurdle
Lossiemouth (FR)
5yo - 8/13
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
16:00 Cheltenham
Champion Hurdle
State Man (FR)
7yo - 2/5
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
16:40 Cheltenham
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Lark In The Mornin (GER)
4yo - 9/1
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
J J Slevin
17:20 Cheltenham
National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
Corbetts Cross (IRE)
7yo - 15/8
Emmet Mullins
Mr Derek O'Connor

Schedule for Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival

The dust has settled on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival and now on to day two. The feature on the second day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. We also have the cross country scheduled on Wednesday, a race like Marmite, some love it and some don't!

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Turners Novices Hurdle
Ballyburn (IRE)
6yo - 1/2
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
14:00 Cheltenham
Brown Advisory Novices Chase
Fact To File (FR)
7yo - 8/13
W P Mullins
Mark Walsh
14:40 Cheltenham
Coral Cup
Langer Dan (IRE)
8yo - 13/2
Dan Skelton
Harry Skelton
15:20 Cheltenham
Cross Country Chase
Delta Work (FR)
10yo - 11/10
Gordon Elliott
Keith Donoghue
16:00 Cheltenham
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Captain Guinness (IRE)
9yo - 17/2
Henry De Bromhead
Rachael Blackmore
16:40 Cheltenham
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
Unexpected Party (FR)
9yo - 12/1
Dan Skelton
Harry Skelton
17:20 Cheltenham
Champion Bumper
Jasmin De Vaux (FR)
5yo - 9/2
W P Mullins
Mr P W Mullins

Schedule for Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival

Halfway through the festival and onto day three where the Stayers Hurdle is the feature race. A hurdle race to test the stamina and see how can last best up the Cheltenham hill.

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Mares Novices Hurdle
Golden Ace (GB)
6yo - 10/1
Jeremy Scott
Lorcan Williams
14:00 Cheltenham
Novices Limited Handicap Chase
Grey Dawning (IRE)
7yo - 5/2
Dan Skelton
Harry Skelton
14:40 Cheltenham
Pertemps Network Final
Monmiral (FR)
7yo - 25/1
Paul Nicholls
Harry Cobden
15:20 Cheltenham
Ryanair Chase
Protektorat (FR)
9yo - 17/2
Dan Skelton
Harry Skelton
16:00 Cheltenham
Stayers Hurdle
Teahupoo (FR)
7yo - 5/4
Gordon Elliott
Jack Kennedy
16:40 Cheltenham
Festival Plate
Shakem UpArry (IRE)
10yo - 8/1
Ben Pauling
Ben Jones
17:20 Cheltenham
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Inothewayurthinkin (IRE)
6yo - 13/8
Gavin Cromwell
Mr Derek O'Connor

Schedule for Friday at the Cheltenham Festival

The final day of the festival and feature race that we have all been waiting for, the Cheltenham Gold Cup in which the Irish have been fairly dominant in recent years.

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Triumph Hurdle
Majborough (FR)
4yo - 6/1
W P Mullins
Mark Walsh
14:00 Cheltenham
County Handicap Hurdle
Absurde (FR)
6yo - 12/1
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
14:40 Cheltenham
Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase
Limerick Lace (IRE)
7yo - 3/1
Gavin Cromwell
Keith Donoghue
15:20 Cheltenham
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
Stellar Story (IRE)
7yo - 33/1
Gordon Elliott
Sam Ewing
16:00 Cheltenham
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Galopin Des Champs (FR)
8yo - 10/11
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
16:40 Cheltenham
Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
Sine Nomine (GB)
8yo - 8/1
Fiona Needham
Mr John Dawson
17:20 Cheltenham
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
Better Days Ahead (IRE)
6yo - 5/1
Gordon Elliott
Danny Gilligan

Article Contributor Information

We are blessed with an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to creating and maintaining this Ultima Handicap Chase Preview are at hand, Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse racing tips team team looking after the tipsters and managing the tips settlement, whilst also creating and managing all of the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.

Darren Brett

Darren Brett

Tipster Competition Manager

Darren has worked in the horse racing industry for decades bringing to OLBG for the last 20 years a wealth of knowledge, creating much of our content on these sports. Darren also manages our Grand National Guide and is the go-to font of knowledge for the world's greatest steeplechase.
Andy Powell

Andy Powell

Content Editor

Andy, a seasoned horse racing expert with over 15 years of experience, possesses a comprehensive understanding of the sport, from delving into complex statistical data for jump racing in the UK and Ireland to crafting insightful national hunt racing blogs for OLBG.

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