- Cheltenham Festival Day 1
- Cheltenham Festival Day 2
- Cheltenham Festival Day 3
- Cheltenham Festival Day 4
- All Day 1 Races - Tue 10 Mar
- 13:20 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
- 14:00 Arkle Trophy
- 14:40 Fred Winter
- 15:20 Ultima Handicap Chase
- 16:00 Champion Hurdle
- 16:40 Festival Plate
- 17:20 National Hunt Chase
- All Day 2 Races - Wed 11 Mar
- 13:20 Turners Novices' Hurdle
- 14:00 Brown Advisory
- 14:40 Coral Cup
- 15:20 Cross Country Chase
- 16:00 Champion Chase
- 16:40 Grand Annual Chase
- 17:20 Champion Bumper
Ultima Handicap Chase Tips & Odds
The Ultima Handicap Chase is the first handicap race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival taking place at 15:20 on Tuesday 10th March 2026. Read More
You can check out all the latest Ultima Handicap Chase odds here, as well as a dedicated racecard and our Cheltenham tips on the day of the race.
We also give you help and guidelines on how to place a bet on the Ultima with the best horse racing horse racing betting sites and also answer any FAQs on the handicap chase, as well as look at the trends and past winners for the race.
Cheltenham 15:20
Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
- 5yo+, 62 Runners
- Jumps,Turf , 3m 1f , SOFT (GoingStick: 5.2)
Odds Comparison
Racecard
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• 1 (5) = Horse number with the draw number in brackets.
• Number alongside the horse name is the days since the horse last ran.
• Numbers/letters under the jockey silk is the horse form with the most recent figure on the right. Numbers = finishing position (0 = finished outside the top 10), P = pulled up, F = fell, U = Unseated, B = brought down, R = refused, C = carried out, D = disqualified, HR = hit rails, L = left at start, O = ran out, S = slipped up, V = void race. A dash between figures indicates a year between the runs and a slash indicates a new season.
• % alongside jockey/trainer names = strike rate in last 30 days.
• Key to pointers: C = Course winner, D = Distance winner, CD = Course & Distance winner, BF = Beaten Favourite last time out, WS = Has had wind surgery since last run, LT = Longest Travellers, b = Wearing blinkers, b1 = Wearing blinkers for the first time, h = Wearing a hood, h1 = Wearing a hood for the first time, t = Wearing a tongue strap, t1 = Wearing a tongue strap for the first time, v = Wearing a visor, v1 = Wearing a visor for the first time, p = Wearing cheek pieces. OR = Official Rating. RPR = Racing Post Rating. Topspeed is a figure calculated using race times and the going to show how fast the horse can run.
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Ultima Handicap Chase Tips
A race that has in recent seasons been dominated by the home team, perhaps due to the famed Irish tax which so plagues some of the handicap chasers, it seems obvious to recommend siding with the Brits once again. Jagwar has the potential to go off a very short priced favourite, if indeed he does line up here, but with his defeat at Doncaster last time out potentially showing a questionable attitude in a battle, it may be worth chancing something at a bigger price.
Most firms are NRNB at this point and with that concession in our back pocket, it is worth chancing the horse that will be top weight if he comes here rather than the Ryanair, HANDSTANDS for Ben Pauling. This season has not gone to plan but the team seem confident they've found the key to regaining his best form and should this gallant frontrunner be there or thereabouts come the final few obstacles, it'll take a good one to pass him.
Handstands
About The Ultima Handicap Chase
The Ultima Handicap Chase (known traditionally as the Festival Trophy) is a handicap chase held on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, Champion Day, which takes place on a Tuesday in March. Run over a distance of three miles and one furlong, the race has been backed by its current sponsors, Ultima Business Solutions, since 2015.
The Ultima Handicap Chase began life as the National Hunt Handicap Chase and was first run in 1946 when won by the Charles Rogers-trained Dunnshaughlin. The race, which has had several sponsors over the years, often serves as a warm-up for the following month’s Grand National at Aintree, and a host of horses have appeared in both over the years, including in 2019 - when the second and third from the Ultima, Vintage Clouds and Lake View Lad, ran at Aintree the following month for their owner Trevor Hemmings. Three horses have won this race twice, with the most recent to do so being the David Pipe-trained Un Temps Pour Tout, who won the Ultima in 2016 and 2017.
In 2025, Lucinda Russell's MYRETOWN was a well backed front running winner, extending the phenomenal record British trainers have in this particular Festival handicap contest.
Ultima Handicap Chase Key Trends
- Four of the last 10 winners have been aged eight years old
- Three favourite or joint favourites have won in the last 10 renewals of the race
- The last 10 winners have all been trained in the UK
- Five of the last 10 winners have carried 11st 3lbs or more
Previous Winners Of The Ultima Handicap Chase
| Year | Winner | Winning Jockey | Winning Trainer | Starting Price | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Myretown | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell | 13/2 Fav | 10-3 |
| 2024 | Chianti Classico | David Bass | Kim Bailey | 6/1 | 11-4 |
| 2023 | Corach Rambler | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell | 6/1 JF | 11-5 |
| 2022 | Corach Rambler | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell | 10/1 | 10-2 |
| 2021 | Vintage Clouds | Ryan Mania | Sue Smith | 28/1 | 10-11 |
| 2020 | The Conditional | Brendan Powell Jr | David Bridgwater | 15/2 | 10-6 |
| 2019 | Beware The Bear | Jeremiah McGrath | Nicky Henderson | 10/1 | 11-8 |
| 2018 | Coo Star Sivola | Lizzie Kelly | Nick Williams | 5/1 Fav | 10-10 |
| 2017 | Un Temps Pour Tout | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | 9/1 | 11-12 |
| 2016 | Un Temps Pour Tout | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | 11/1 | 11-7 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Ultima Handicap Chase
When is the Ultima Handicap Chase?
The race takes place at 15:20 on Tuesday 10th March 2025
Where can I watch the Ultima Handicap Chase?
Watch the Ultima Handicap Chase live on ITV Racing on ITV and Racing TV who also offer options to stream the race via their streaming services.
Alternatively most bookmakers offer a free live horse racing stream allowing you to watch the race after you've placed a bet.
Who is the most iconic winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase?
The most memorable winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase is undoubtedly the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Wichita Lineman, though he is mainly remembered for his jockey more than anything else, receiving one of the great Cheltenham Festival rides from the legendary AP McCoy when coming home in front in 2009 (when the race was known as the William Hill Trophy). Despite looking beaten with a circuit to go, McCoy wouldn’t give up the ghost on Wichita Lineman, who began to respond to his rider’s unrelenting urgings when still closer to last when first two fences out, before staying on with a remarkable burst to pick things up in the dying strides and bring the house down.
Are there any trials for the Ultima Handicap Chase?
There are no specific trials as such for the Ultima, though winners regularly make their mark in valuable staying chases throughout the season, such as the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury, the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby and the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
Who is the most successful jockey in the Ultima Handicap Chase?
The joint-most successful jockeys in the history of the Ultima Handicap Chase are Robert Thornton and Tom Scudamore, with three wins each. Robert Thornton’s Ultima wins came courtesy of Fort Lightning (2004), Kelami (2005), and Bensalem (2011), while Tom Scudamore was successful on An Accordion (2008) and Un Temps Pour Tout (2016 & 2017).
Who is the most successful trainer in the Ultima Handicap Chase?
The joint-most successful trainers in the history of the Ultima Handicap Chase are Fred Rimell and Fulke Walwyn, who have both won the race four times. Fred Rimell was successful with Cavaliero (1948), Frere Jacques II (1949), Land Fort (1951) and Holly Bank (1954), while Fulke Walwyn was successful with Ravencroft (1961), Team Spirit (1963), Lord Jim (1971) and Gay Vulgan (1977).