Cheltenham Festival: Ultima Handicap Chase Betting Tips
The Ultima is no longer the first handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, but it remains one of the most important. It has been known to launch bids for the Gold Cup and the Grand National, with Corach Rambler famously winning at Aintree and finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following season.
This year's field of 22 is filled with quality, not limited to Iroko, who is currently the favourite for the Grand National.
Our expert has three fancies to consider in this ultra-deep field, in which BetMGM is paying six places instead of the usual four.
NAP: Konfusion @ 12/1
The Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson yard have had a great season, mainly with the yard's usual stock in trade of staying handicap chasers. When Smith was the sole trainer, they won this race in 2021 with Vintage Clouds and KONFUSION could take this race back up north once more.
This horse started the season rated just 115, but has progressed at pace. He won at Wetherby in November, then two premier handicaps (Newcastle's Rehearsal Chase and the Rowland Meyrick back at Wetherby) towards the end of 2025.
He was only third in the Peter Marsh at Haydock last time, but that race had an unusually fast finish and the yard were a little quieter at the time. He remains on a good mark and has been saved for the spring, while his prominent-racing style has traditionally been a big help in this race, with hold-up horses finding it hard to navigate around so many rivals.
Next Best: Imperial Saint @ 14/1
When Konfusion was third at Haydock, the winner was IMPERIAL SAINT, who was belatedly showing some of his residual promise from last season.
He improved on his first attempt over 3m last spring, finishing second in a good race at Aintree on Grand National day. He took a couple of runs to warm up this season, but showed a good attitude to come through at Haydock. He has run fairly well at Cheltenham a couple of times in the past and deserves a chance to show that he has even more to come.
Long Shot: Leave Of Absence @ 18/1
Trainer Anthony Honeyball is a master with staying handicap chasers, much like Smith and Parkinson. He trains LEAVE OF ABSENCE, who has been expertly plotted through the season and is now in place to land a big pot this spring. It may be in this race.
This horse has already won at Cheltenham this season, at the October meeting, but then found conditions too testing there in November. He bounced back to finish a close second at Ascot just before Christmas, though.
He made his return to action against Gold Cup hopeful Haiti Couleurs at Newbury, in a run that was likely just marking time for a return to handicaps.
Now in that company, the front-running Leave Of Absence deserves more respect than the market is currently affording him.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
