2017 Ultima Handicap Chase

Had one of my favourite moments on here when Holywell landed a long term punt in this 3 years back, and it was almost a repeat of the same last year, when he was only denied by the very well handicapped Un Temps Pour Tout. One of those horses who’s early season form can be ignored, and that’s probably for the best, as he’s been woeful so far………..though he hadn’t fared much better by this stage last year either. He’s already a pound below the mark he ran off last year, and he looks worth a punt at the 16’s. I won’t have as much on Ante-Post this year as usual, but even at half the price on the day, I’ll top up.

Stablemate Beg To Differ also took this in last year, but had some traffic problems going out into the country, and got rid of his rider on the flat. After a few disappointing try’s, and not to mention signs of temperament, he looked back on track last time in The Welsh National, and he’s worth a second look. Also from the same yard are the JP pair, Another Hero & Shutthefrontdoor. Another Hero is ideal for 3 miles round here on the better spring ground, though his somewhat obvious chance hasn’t went unnoticed, and he’s near the head of the market. I suppose I shouldn’t be grumbling about 20-1 for him though. Shuthefrontdoor has been as bad as Holywell so far, though there’s just the worry that he might be gone at the game, and won’t be one to bounce back. I’m willing to forgive though, and were he to trap here, I’d have to consider him.

The one JP horse I’m very interested in though is Cause of Causes. Very much like Holywell, come the spring, he bursts into life, and his Festival Form the last 3 years reads 211. Although The Grand National is surely the long term plan, he’s a good enough horse to take something here en-route. “Good enough” may be an understatement, as I’ve always said he should be competing in Graded Chases, and it wouldn’t surprise me were he to get a Gold Cup entry one of these years, as he’s certainly miles ahead of his 148 mark, and that’s not a true reflection of his ability. He’s been very good to me the last few years here, and I’m expecting a bold bid for a repeat win at this years festival. Like so many horses, he’s got a plethora of targets he could go for, and though a repeat bid in The Kim Muir might be the conventional choice, connections would have to get him down another 3lbs for that, which can hardly be guaranteed. I’ll cover him wherever he goes, but he’ll surely be off of no bigger than that 148, and should this indeed be the plan, then the 33’s is ridiculous, and I’ve had a decent go at those odds.

One dark horse for this could be his stablemate Tiger Roll. One of the forgotten horses of the season, and I find it hard to forget his stroll in The Munster National. He’s another with Festival form, and though something like The National Hunt Chase might be on the agenda, he’ll be of major interest wherever he lines up, and his run here in October, had “sighter” written all over it.

Doctor Harper from last years winning yard is also on the shortlist, though he’s also on my shortlist for all of the handicaps, so I’ll leave him from an Ante-Post perspective. He could go anywhere, though here or The Kim Muir does look perfect.

This one of those races where a large number of the contenders get multiple entries, so always difficult to pick the bones out of them, not to mention before the entries are actually published, but of those who have already been priced up, the following look particularly well priced….

Fletchers Flyer 25’s
Blaklion 25’s
Vyta Du Roc 33’s
The Druids Nephew 33’s
Double Ross 40’s
Wakanda 50’s

Along with Cause of Causes, my favourite horse in training is Seeyouatmidnight, and I’d love to see the pair of them in the same race. SYAM is on the easy list after his “no show” in The Betfair Chase, but with The Rendlesham mentioned as his next target, followed by The Scottish National, then this might not be on the agenda. He’d be a real player though, back in handicap company off of his current mark, though I suppose only time will tell what mark that run in The Betfair will have left. Another horse on the easy list who might be worth keeping in mind is O’Faolains Boy.

Admittedly it’s early days, and there’ll be a dozen more (at the very least) who’ll catch my eye in the next couple of months, but a small early go on Holywell can’t be helped, while the chance that he won’t qualify for The Kim Muir, makes Cause of Causes the standout at this stage, at a whopping 33’s with Skybet & Betfair Sportsbook.

GL