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The Ultima Handicap Chase is one of the few races where the British still can cope with the Irish challengers. Last year it was won by Vintage Clouds. At the moment Does He Know, Aye Right and Imperial Alcazar are the favourites. I’ve backed Commodore NRNB at 25/1. He will possibly go for National Trial at Haydock, but if not I think he has a decent chance. His last win as a frontrunner at Cheltenham was impressive.
Commodore very impressive last time DBR, and on that evidence, he’d have a fair old chance in this.
I’ve always got a few on the radar for this at this stage, but not bet anything yet, and trying my hardest to hold off.
Ben Dundee
Old favourite of mine, and he was my dark horse for this, and been itching to bet him. Unfortunately tipped up by Gavin Lynch on Upping The Ante, and the 33’d evaporated quickly. I couldn’t believe it when he tipped him up. Still on the shortlist, but I won’t be getting a sniff of 33’sCloudy Glen
I’ve a feeling that he’ll definitely come here, and that he’ll be in the same mood as he was at Newbury. Has Festival Form, and reckon I’ll bet him Antepost.Coko Beach
I’ll bet him one of these days, and I’d be very interested in him if he came here, and I’d be surprised if he didn’t get an entry. Winner waiting to happenEscaria Ten
I’d like him to have a quiet prep for Aintree, but trainer usually runs his National contenders at Aintree, and must be a chance they’ll consider this, given the owner.Gericault Roque
Fairly consistent sort, and although equally suitable for The Kim Muir, can see them tempted by this.Janika
Very much like Coko Beach, put him up plenty of times, without betting him too often. Bet him in Skybet, and he disappointed again, and trainer has Kim Muir as main target. His run here in January was eyecatching, and though he has that Kim Muir target, not written off for this or The Plate.Palmers Hill
Last run was a big disappointment, but he’s worth forgiving, and a definite of mine whichever race he runs in.Remastered
I thought he’d be a Gold Cup horse, and the manner in which he was going to win The Ladbrokes Trophy before falling, was encouraging. His last two runs have been overwhelming, but I’ve still got a lot of faith in him, and I reckon he’d have a huge chance in this off his current mark.Stratum
Not really a race that Mullins targets, and he’s a big hope of mine for The Irish National, but if he got an entry, I’d definitely take advantage of NRNBTime To Get Up
My main hope for Kim Muir, but his mark will probably prevent him from that if he runs well at Haydock in a fortnight. Perfect for this if he comes here.Vintage Clouds
Last years winner, and though another year older, very hard to write him off, running of his current mark.Definitely no Antepost just now, but Cloudy Glen and Remastered probably the main hopes right now.
12/1 is quite a skinny ap price for Noble Yeats, but that is with the cushion of nrnb. I think that he could run here, and go off a much shorter price
I’ve also bet him 14/1 nrnb for The Paddy Power Plate
I really liked Noble Yeats for this, too, but the news that the Waley-Cohens have bought him tempers enthusiasm somewhat. The horse is to remain with Emmet Mullins this season, but will “Sack of spuds Sam” be riding now?
Yes SWC will ride him. Couldn’t disagree more with your Sack of spuds comments – SWC has got A very good record over the Aintree spruce.
Coko Beach or Kiltealy Briggs for me at the entry stage, but definitely not a race that I’m going rush into
No entry for Remastered then, but Cloudy Glen still in there. One less to worry about with Remastered, but he’s just made The Pertemps even more confusing for me.
No hesitation for me though, in betting my old pal Frodon here.
Few negatives obviously. Perhaps not quite the force of old, trainer doesn’t have a great record, and maybe a bit of an afterthought this, but he’s a tough old bugger, and I can see him giving it a good go from the front, out of harms way.
One of those where NRNB is crucial.
Several others from the early shortlist still in there, and if I added them to others that I like from the entries, the shortlist would run off the page.
Frodon 16’s NRNB
Bit of 20/1 still knocking about for Ben Dundee Bobby and I’ve joined you.
I’m never thrilled about backing a 10 year old around here, albeit it seems to matter less outside of grade ones (see last years winner of this). No one seems to have jumped on the Paddy Power form yet though and I think it’s because the first 2 home haven’t run since.
Death Duty and Birchdale were back in 5th and 6th that day though and have more than have held it up their end since. The 3rd home, Enjoy D’allen is now disputing favouritism for the National.
I would have been looking at School Boy Hours too although Noel Meade said after the Paddy Power win he was likely to go straight to Aintree or (much more likely now) Fairyhouse for one of the Nationals.
Ben Dundee one of the rare ones not to be raised by the UK handicapper from his Irish mark. Definitely some juice in that 20/1 for a horse who’s ran well at festivals gone by
What’s the maximum field size for this? I’ve taken 33’s for the wolf and I’m seeing him at 24 on the list….
The maximum is 24 which we should know by Sunday.
You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.Market’s seemingly against it although I have a sneaky suspicion School Boy Hours could turn up here. Derek O’Connor’s not mentioned him as a possible Kim Muir ride, for which he’s currently a much shorter price than in this.
Could this be a JP raid?
He,s not the horse he was but if Lostintranslation turns up like he did first time out he could be a e.w play , we know he handles Cheltenham , as long as the ground OK I can see him running a solid race
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Predictably tight on my figures. I have to apply a fiddle factor to even up the GB and Irish handicap scales, roughly add 1lb for every 7lbs below 150 to Irish ratings, but I’m happy with how things have come out.
174 Gericault Roque
172 Ben Dundee
172 Grumpy Charley
171 Vintage Clouds
170 Our Power
169 Floueur
167 Noble Yeats
167 Foxy Jacks
165 Death Duty
165 RapperOf the top rated the progressive ones with a bit in the tank are Grumpy Charley and Gericault Roque.
Grumpy Charley made a pleasing handicap debut when beating Fern Hill at Newbury and caught the eye when pushing Bravemansgame until the run-in at Newbury next time. Lightly raced and on the way up, sort of horse to be on in this contest.
Gericault Roque is another novice and has put in three excellent efforts of late, particularly his Warwick second to Eclair Surf. Out of the handicap a few pounds, but Warwick form outweighs that. Stable not pulling up any trees of late but tend to do better with their stayers these days.
A few of the Irish have their chances but many exposed. However Floueur is a 7 year old and last two runs suggest he’s on the way up and Isuspect will be favoured by the drying ground, so he makes the three against the field.
You’ll probably hear a lot in the buildup in the media about the poor Irish record in this given Death Dutys position in the market but the fact is they’ve averaged 2 runners each year in the race for the last decade and still had a couple go close, Noble Endeavour springs to mind a few year back. This year they have nearly a third of the field so they are going for it big time comparatively. Not nailing my colours to the Irish by any stretch but that stat is very misleading in the context of this years renewal.
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