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13:20Supreme Novices' Hurdle
14:00Arkle Chase
14:40Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
15:20Ultima Handicap Chase
16:00Champion Hurdle
16:40TrustATrader Festival Plate Handicap
17:20National Hunt Chase
13:20Turner's Novices' Hurdle
14:00Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
14:40BetMGM Cup Hurdle (Coral Cup)
15:20Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
16:00Champion Chase
16:40Grand Annual Chase
17:20Champion Bumper
Ultima Handicap Chase
15:20 Cheltenham Festival
2026-03-10
Winner: £84,405
Runners: 22
Going: Good To Soft
No. of hurdles: 20
Distance:
The Ultima Handicap Chase, also known as the Festival Trophy, is a long-distance handicap chase run as the third race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. It is the first of five handicap chases run at the festival. Winners of the race often take part in the Grand National - those who have achieved victory in both events include Royal Tan, Team Spirit, West Tip, Seagram, Rough Quest and Corach Rambler.
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10(0)
64-0P3
Stolen Silver
-
J: Miss Olive Nicholls
T: Georgina Nicholls
11
11-2
145
Course winner who is well handicapped on his form in 2023 but this 11yo has struggled since; tailed off on stable debut at Kelso ten days ago.
21(0)
11-246
Margaret's Legacy
-
J: Harry Bannister
T: Warren Greatrex
9
10-2
126
161
Won last winter on first two starts for yard (2m4f, good to soft/soft) and looked set for another progressive season when second at Bangor (2m4f, soft) on reappearance; however, two underwhelming runs have followed.
17(0)
F5-P43
The Short Go
-
J: Darragh O'Keeffe
T: Henry De Bromhead
9
10-9
138
158
Didn't jump well when 16l fifth to Myretown in this race last March (good to soft); solid course record otherwise and he twice made the frame here (3m1f/3m2f, good/good to soft) towards the end of last year; has had a wind operation since and he's an each-way candidate if jumping better than 12 months ago.
1(0)
424-21
Iroko
-
J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr
T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
8
12-0
157
163
Fourth in last season's Grand National (4m2f, good to soft) off 5lb lower; the big one at Aintree is again his main target but this 8yo looked better than ever when winning a hot, three-runner graduation chase at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft) in December and on that evidence he's entitled to considerable respect off his revised mark; won the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the 2023 Festival.
7(0)
25-535
Johnnywho
-
J: Richie McLernon
T: Jonjo & A J O'Neill
9
11-3
146
163
Neck second in the Kim Muir here (3m2f, good to soft) 12 months ago; promise in defeat on his first two runs this season; not quite at the top of his game at Haydock last time but wind op since and cheekpieces are added; remains one to be interested in, especially given his Festival form.
6(0)
1-1P23
Leave Of Absence
-
J: Rex Dingle
T: Anthony Honeyball
9
11-3
146
162
Second-season chaser who is enjoying another progressive campaign, winning a novice here (3m1f, good) in October and beaten a head in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December; not disgraced in Grade 2 at Newbury (2m7f, heavy) last time; not ruled out each-way now back in a handicap.
22(0)
24-275
Eyed
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Hughie Morrison
9
10-2
122
154
9yo who was progressive last season, winning three times (2m5f/3m, good/good to soft); he didn't run badly when fifth at Ascot (3m, soft) in January last time but is 9lb out of the handicap today, so faces a tough task.
13(0)
2P-974
Hyland
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
9
11-0
143
164
Won Listed novice chase here (3m, good) in November 2024; 0-5 in handicaps in 2025 but having edged down the weights he was a close fourth at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December last time; 3-5 here and, with the drying ground in his favour, he could be in the mix in first-time cheekpieces.
19(0)
11-151
Filanderer
-
J: Jonathan Burke
T: Hughie Morrison
10
10-2
128
162
10yo who is lightly raced for his age and made it five wins from his last six starts (various ground) when scoring comfortably in a veterans' chase at Market Rasen in January (extended 2m5f; the longest trip he's tackled); this is a hot race in which to test his stamina, and from out of the handicap he's 11lb higher than last time, but he was strong at the finish and the form is working out very well; it remains to be seen where his limitations lie.
14(0)
11-F4P
Myretown
-
J: Derek Fox
T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
9
10-13
142
166
Mistakes were costly on first two runs this term and he was pulled up at Haydock (extended 3m4f, good to soft) 24 days ago; not easy to fancy on the back of that but stamina may well have been an issue and he was hugely impressive when making all by 11l in this race last March (good to soft); might take plenty of catching, even now 15lb higher, if rediscovering that same dominant form.
12(0)
5-3732
Blow Your Wad
-
J: Freddie Mitchell
T: Gary & Josh Moore
8
11-1
144
166
Kept on well for third in handicap at Ascot (3m, good) in November and creditable third of six on stable debut in Grade 1 Ascot Chase (2m5f, good to soft) last month, before close second in handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) ten days ago; he was 10l clear of the third last time and is 4lb ahead of the handicapper off the same mark today; the step back up in trip could be a firm plus and he showed promise here last April; one to consider seriously.
9(0)
0-022P
Search For Glory
-
J: James Smith
T: Gordon Elliott
9
11-2
145
163
Didn't jump well when seventh in this last year and pulled up in the Thyestes at Gowran Park (3m1f, heavy) in January on latest run; however, he was in good form previously, finishing second of nine at Navan (2m4f, soft to heavy) then second of 28 in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown (3m, yielding); each-way player if back on song and finding some fluency.
8(0)
-1U113
Konfusion
-
J: Callum Bewley
T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith
8
11-2
145
165
8yo who thrived towards the end of last year, winning three times (2m7f/3m, good-soft); having gone up the weights he was third of six (beaten about 2l) behind Imperial Saint at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) in January but that was still a big performance and further improvement can't be ruled out.
4(0)
311-32
Jagwar
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
7
11-9
152
166
Highly progressive switched to fences last season, a campaign that culminated in a convincing win in the Plate here (2m4f, good to soft) in March; he's kept on well over 2m4f here (good to soft/soft) on both runs this season, beaten just a head last time when 10l clear of the third; today's first crack at a staying trip could prompt further improvement; lots to like.
15(0)
-2P512
The Doyen Chief
-
J: Tom Bellamy
T: Alan King
9
10-13
142
159
Won at Kempton (3m, good) in January and good second in competitive handicap there (3m, good to soft) last month; could give another good account but he didn't quite stay when fifth here (extended 3m2f, good to soft) in December and it's possible he'll again prove vulnerable up the hill.
3(0)
41-102
Resplendent Grey
-
J: Sean Bowen
T: Olly Murphy
8
11-10
153
163
Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good) last April in first-time cheekpieces and returned to form when second at Windsor (2m6f, soft) in January; his jumping can sometimes lack fluency but, with first-time blinkers replacing the cheekpieces, he has an each-way chance if minimising the mistakes; fourth of 18 in the NH Chase here (3m6f, good to soft) last March.
11(0)
42-561
Imperial Saint
-
J: Callum Pritchard
T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
8
11-1
144
164
Progressive novice last season, winning three handicaps at Aintree (2m/2m4f, good/good to soft) and posting a good third here (2m4f, soft); won at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) in January when back up in trip and he's unexposed over staying distances; up 3lb for that neck victory; could go well.
16(0)
1-2422
Quebecois
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
7
10-10
139
160
Mixed form during this novice chase campaign but he went very close in handicap here (2m4f, soft) in January and 2m was against him back in novice company at Newbury latest; best performance over hurdles came when winning at 3m at Ayr (good to soft) last April; possible improver now back up in trip.
2(0)
1P-243
Handstands
-
J: Ben Jones
T: Ben Pauling
7
11-12
155
163
2m4f Grade 1 novice chase winner last February; a couple of good runs in defeat this term, last time third of five at Windsor (2m6f, soft; first run after wind surgery), but he needs something extra today and there's a suspicion a shorter trip may be preferable; well beaten (over hurdles) on sole run here; cheekpieces go on.
18(0)
-32530
Patter Merchant
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
7
10-5
134
160
7yo who is lightly raced over fences and represents top Irish yard; went close at Fairyhouse in November on second chase start but his form has gone the wrong way since and he was soundly beaten at Punchestown last month in his first handicap chase; ninth in the Pertemps Final here last March.
20(0)
1-2142
Knight Of Allen
-
J: Ciaran Gethings
T: Jane Williams
6
10-2
127
161
Kept on for creditable fourth of five in novice chase here (2m4f, good) in January when up against it at the weights and he may have bumped into a handicap blot when 14l second at Newbury (extended 2m7f, heavy) last month; this unexposed 6yo is not ruled out each-way, despite being 4lb wrong.
5(0)
562415
Blaze The Way
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: Ms Margaret Mullins
8
11-3
146
158
Off the mark over fences at fifth attempt in good style here (3m2f, good to soft) in December, when back up in trip; well beaten in Grade 3 novice at Naas since but the heavy ground provides an excuse; a mark 8lb higher than for his course win may not be insurmountable for this unexposed 8yo.
RACING POST TIP
Blow Your Wad
The step up in trip could be just what Jagwar (second choice) needs but today's distance could also prove ideal for BLOW YOUR WAD, who has stayed on strongly over 2m5f and 2m4f on his first two starts for Gary and Josh Moore and looked very much at home over 3m at Ascot earlier in the season. He is 4lb ahead of the handicapper following his near-miss in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury ten days ago. The progressive 10yo Filanderer is an intriguing contender, with the form of his comfortable veterans' chase win at Market Rasen in January working out extremely well, and he is third pick despite being 3lb wrong and untested at the trip. Blaze The Way is next on the list, while Iroko, Johnnywho and last year's winner Myretown are also respected.
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2026 Cheltenham Festival tips from Racing Post Experts
ULTIMA HANDICAP PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2025 | Myretown | 1-51F1 | 8 | 13/2F | Lucinda Russell | Patrick Wadge |
| 2024 | Chianti Classico | 1P-112 | 7 | 6-1 | Kim Bailey | David Bass |
| 2023 | Corach Rambler | 1-54 | 9 | 6-1JF | Lucinda Russell | Derek Fox |
| 2022 | Corach Rambler | 3114U | 8 | 10-1 | Lucinda Russell | Derek Fox |
| 2021 | Vintage Clouds | 58-753 | 11 | 28-1 | Sue Smith | Ryan Mania |
| 2020 | The Conditional | 4-3124 | 8 | 15-2 | David Bridgwater | Bredan Powell |
| 2019 | Beware The Bear | P4P-41 | 9 | 10-1 | Nicky Henderson | Jerry McGrath |
| 2018 | Coo Star Sivola | 53241 | 6 | 5-1F | Nick Williams | Lizzie Kelly |
| 2017 | Un Temps Pour Tout | 4-1036 | 8 | 9-1 | David Pipe | Tom Scudamore |
| 2016 | Un Temps Pour Tout | 3-1224 | 7 | 11-1 | David Pipe | Tom Scudamore |
| 2015 | The Druids Nephew | P-1275 | 8 | 8-1 | Neil Mulholland | Barry Geraghty |
ULTIMA HANDICAP KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Trained in Britain, 10/10
- Adjusted RPR of above 150, 9/10
- Beaten on their previous start, 7/10
- Aged between six and eight, 7/10
- Sent off at single-figure odds, 6/10
Other factors
- The last Irish-trained horse to win the race was the Tony Martin-trained Dun Doire in 2006.
- Un Temps Pour Tout (2017) is the only winner to have carried top weight this century
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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - ULTIMA HANDICAP 2026
The British dominance of the Ultima Handicap Chase, the first handicap of the meeting, continued when Myretown scored for Lucinda Russell and Patrick Wadge. It was a third success in the last four runnings of the race for Russell, who struck with Corach Rambler in 2022 and 2023. Myretown, a lightly raced, progressive chaser, was well supported and justified 13-2 favouritism by 11 lengths.