The Festival Trophy Handicap Chase

Ultima Handicap Chase Runners And Entries 2023

You can find the runners & entries for the Ultima Handicap Chase for this year's Cheltenham Festival down below.

As a reminder, this is a full list of entries, but 5 days before the race there will be further declarations, and final declarations 48 hours before.

Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

1st
Derek Fox

Corach Rambler

Age: 9
Weight: 11.4
OR: 146
J:
 
Derek Fox
T:
 
Lucinda Russell
towards rear on inner, steady headway halfway, switched left and in touch with leaders after 3 out, pushed along and led run-in, idled towards finish, just did enough
2nd
J J Slevin

Fastorslow

Age: 7
Weight: 11.6
OR: 150
J:
 
J J Slevin
T:
 
Martin Brassil
raced wide, midfield, headway going easily after 3 out, pushed along and briefly led last, soon edged left, ridden and every chance inside final 110yds, just held
3rd
Jonjo O'Neill Jr

Monbeg Genius

Age: 7
Weight: 10.9
OR: 140
J:
 
Jonjo O'Neill Jr
T:
 
Jonjo O'Neill
midfield on inner, smooth headway and disputed lead after 3 out, ridden and lost ground final 110yds, no match for first two
4th
Davy Russell

The Goffer

Age: 6
Weight: 11.6
OR: 149
J:
 
Davy Russell
T:
 
Gordon Elliott
towards rear, not fluent 7th, not fluent 10th, raced wide and smooth headway before 3 out, smooth headway on outer to lead after 3 out, soon joined, ridden and headed last, soon weakened
5th
Harry Cobden

Oscar Elite

Age: 8
Weight: 10.9
OR: 139
J:
 
Harry Cobden
T:
 
Joe Tizzard
raced wide, in rear, steady headway halfway, prominent on turn before 2 out, ridden and weakened after last

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Third race of Champions Day

The Festival Trophy Handicap Chase, these days known as ‘The Ultima’ is the third race of the festival and after two Grade One contests to open the Champions Day Card, it is the first of the week’s handicaps.

The race is run over 3 miles and 1 furlong and is open to chasers who are aged fiver or over. The race has Grade 3 status and there 20 fences for the runners.

History of the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase

The race is one of the older ones at the festival, first being ran in 1946 and without a sponsor, was known as the National Hunt Handicap Chase.

It wasn’t until the 1980’s that the race received sponsorship, with the Ritz Club taking over naming rights in 1981 and sponsored the race all the way up until 1996. Following them, Buzz Shop took over but only lasted a year before big bookmarker William Hill took over until 2010.

The 2011 edition of the race featured special sponsorship. The race was sponsored buy businessman Andy Steward and his charity research company to raise awareness of their spinal research. 2013 and 2014 saw two new sponsors, JLT followed by Baylis and Harding. 2015 saw Ultima Business Solutions take over and they have named the race ever since.

There have been 69 winners of the race since it began, with three horses successful on two occasions:

Sentina – (1957, 1958)

Scot Lane – (1982, 1983)

Un Temps Pour Tout – (2016, 2017)

Recent years

The race was in 2019 by Beware the Bear, for Nicky Henderson and Jerimiah McGrath which give Henderson a second win in the race however he still needs another two to join both Fred Rimell and Fulke Walwyn on four wins, the joint most. The horses they won it with are below:

Fred Rimell:

Cavaliero (1948)

Frere Jacques II (1949)

Land Fort (1951)

Holly Bank (1954)

Fulke Walwyn:

Ravencroft (1961)

Team Spirit (1963)

Lord Jim (1971)

Gay Vulgan (1977)

Un Temps Pour Tout’s two successive victories gave jockey Tom Scudamore his second and third win in the race and that makes him the joint most successful jockey in the race with the now retired Rob Thornton, here’s the horses they steered to victory:

Tom Scudamore:

An Accordion (2008), Un Temps Pour Tout (2016, 2017)

Rob Thornton:

Fork Lightning (2004)

Kelami (2005)

Bensalem (2011)

Whilst there is not a specific dominance within the race, the stats would suggest the race now requires even better horses to win it, with five of the last six winners all carrying at least 11 stone, 3 lb and that may be worth keeping an eye on.

As well as this, it could be worth noting runners from either David Pipe or Jonjo O’Neill, the pair have sent out 3 winners a piece in the last 12 years, so they are responsible for 50% of the winners since 2008.

Festival Trophy Handicap Chase Winners

Year Winner Age weight Trainer Jockey
2022 Corach Rambler 8 10-02 Lucinda Russell Derek Fox
2021 Vintage Clouds 11 10-11 Sue Smith Ryan Mania
2020 The Conditional 8 10-06 David Bridgwater Brendan Powell Jnr
2019 Beware The Bear 9 11-08 Nicky Henderson Jeremiah McGrath
2018 Coo Star Sivola 6 10-10 Nick Williams Lizzie Kelly
2017 Un Temps Pour Tout 8 11–12 David Pipe Tom Scudamore
2016 Un Temps Pour Tout 7 11-07 David Pipe Tom Scudamore
2015 The Druids Nephew 8 11-03 Neil Mulholland Barry Geraghty
2014 Holywell 7 11-06 Jonjo O'Neill Richie McLernon
2013 Golden Chieftain 8 10-05 Colin Tizzard Brendan Powell Jnr

Ultima Handicap Chase FAQs