Ultima Handicap Chase Tips & Odds

The race takes place at 15:20 on Tuesday 16th March, 2027.

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.

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.  

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.

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).

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).