'We've been looking at this race for most of the season' - analysis and trainer quotes for the Ultima Handicap Chase

Looking at this year's field for the Ultima, you would not be left to wonder why it has stayed in British hands all the way through Ireland's emergence as the dominant force in jump racing. Virtually every exciting British-trained staying handicap chaser is being aimed at this or the Randox Grand National.

Set against that, it is hard to see why The Changing Man is hanging on at the head of the betting post-declarations. He keeps running well, sure. But he was outbattled in three major handicaps (two of the winners run here, on similar or better terms at the weights) and the Reynoldstown fell apart around him last time. He is one for your Placepot, but is not a deserving favourite for such a warm race.

On a personal tissue, Katate Dori would be favourite. He won the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton by a massive margin 17 days ago. He had made his chasing debut only 52 days before that and there is obviously more to come this spring.

The market has found my ante-post fancy Whistle Stop Tour since this was named as his target. He is a thorough stayer, so a steadily run race over shorter here on Trials day was never going to suit, but he ran well besides an obvious lack of pace. He represents the same yard that won this two years running with Corach Rambler.

Masaccio, who finished two places in front of Whistle Stop Tour, had been slated for this race but will run later in the week. Instead, Alan King runs Grandeur D'Ame. He has run five times at Cheltenham and although he has not won, three of his six best runs on Racing Post Ratings have come here. That includes his most recent race, when he was a gallant second to Moon D'Orange on Trials day.

Grandeur D'Ame has long looked worth trying up in trip and is bred that way, as his two winning half-brothers were stayers. The fact he is so far down the betting says plenty about the competitiveness of this year's Ultima.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Two chances for Russell to maintain fine race record

Lucinda Russell has targeted the Ultima with laser-like precision in recent years, most notably with back-to-back winner Corach Rambler.

Russell is double-handed with big ante-post mover Whistle Stop Tour and the equally unexposed Myretown as she aims for a third success in the last four years.

Before Grand National hero Corach Rambler's Ultima successes in 2022 and 2023, Russell sent out Big River to finish fourth in 2019 and fifth in 2020 at big prices.

Lucinda Russell: enjoyed a treble at Kelso

Lucinda Russell: aiming for a third Ultima win in the last four yearsCredit: Edward Whitaker

She is confident Whistle Stop Tour, the mount of stable jockey Derek Fox, who was on board for both of Corach Rambler's wins, and Myretown, who will be ridden by champion conditional Patrick Wadge, can uphold the stable's fine record.

"We've been looking at the race for Whistle Stop Tour for most of the season and this trip will suit him better than the two miles four last time," she said. "He'll stay further in time and he's got an engine – he's not a flashy horse – and those are the types you need for this race.

"Myretown is improving and is on a good mark and it's just a case of whether he takes to the big field or not. He had a blow when he fell at Windsor, but then had a really nice confidence boost at Kelso last time."

What they say

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant trainer of Broadway Boy and Guard Your Dreams
Broadway Boy has very good course form and this has been the plan since his last run. His work has been very good – there are loads of positives and very few negatives. Guard Your Dreams has won an International Hurdle over two miles and all of a sudden looks like he wants an extended trip. He stayed on well last time and has always run well round Cheltenham, so hopefully he'll have a lively each-way chance as he's still talented.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Zanahiyr and Search For Glory
Zanahiyr has been placed in a few Champion Hurdles and loves it here. He's been kept fresh and could outrun his odds. Search For Glory didn't run his race at Leopardstown. He's better than that and we've had our eye on this for a while.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Stay Away Fay
He's been frustrating since running so well in last year's Cotswold Chase. I thought he'd win at Wincanton on Boxing Day when he travelled well but then just stopped. He worked well away from home last week.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Victtorino and Frero Banbou
Victtorino has done nothing wrong all season. He ran in this last season, which didn't go so well for him, and hopefully he can be competitive this time. Frero Banbou has run some good races over shorter distances round Cheltenham and has shown he stays this distance this season.

Victtorino gets in close to the last on his way to victory in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot

Victtorino: in good form this season for Venetia Williams Credit: Mark Cranham

Ben Pauling, trainer of Henry's Friend
I'm very happy with him and he goes there with a good chance on the back of a positive run last time. He definitely has the right profile. He's run once at Cheltenham before but I think he was over the top from his previous race at Ascot which he'd won.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Malina Girl
Malina Girl is in good form at the moment and has been round Cheltenham a few times before. We’ve got no concerns about the trip or the ground with her.

Paul Gilligan, trainer of Sequestered
I'm hopeful for a good run. On his Leopardstown form, he'd have to be in with some sort of a chance but obviously it's a different track and a very competitive race. He has a squeak and we're very happy with him as he travelled over very well.

Nicky Richards, trainer of Famous Bridge
I think he's in better order than last year and he ran a great race then, so I'm just hoping he gets in a nice rhythm. I'd like the ground nearer soft than good to soft for him, as he handles soft ground very well.

Donald McCain, trainer of Richmond Lake
He's been running well all year. It's hugely competitive, but he's got plenty of experience. He's in good nick and is ready to go.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of The Short Go
He ran well over this course and distance in October so we said why not come back and give this a go. He's been good at home, he has a nice low weight and, if luck is on his side, he could run nicely.

Joe Tizzard, trainer of The Changing Man
I don't think he had a particularly hard race at Ascot and he managed to get his head in front which was a confidence booster. We couldn't have wished for a nicer prep run and he's come out of it super. I thought the handicapper was very fair and this is the right race for him. He's a streetwise second-season novice and it's not as if he's coming here off the back of only a few runs over fences. He's like a handicapper and there are no excuses on that front.

David Pipe, trainer of King Turgeon
Everything should suit him. He won't mind the big field and if he comes back to the form of when winning at Cheltenham and his third at Wincanton, he'd have an each-way chance. You'd have to put a line through his last run at Musselburgh – maybe he didn't like staying away the night – and he's probably a bit better going left-handed as well.

AJ O'Neill, joint-trainer of Crebilly
He's probably been a little bit disappointing overall this season, but he ran well in the Plate at last year's festival and hopefully he can remember the hill. He's going up in trip and I don't think that'll be too much of a hindrance to him.

Sam Thomas, trainer of Katate Dori
He went up 12lb for his win last time and we can only hope he's in the same sort of form. If he is, he'd have a good chance. He had to step up last time, with him still being a novice, and it's not going to be quite as plain sailing. We're excited as he's the best chance we've had of a festival winner.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

Day one of the Cheltenham Festival:

1.20 Cheltenham: 'He will get warm and jig-joggy beforehand' - Kopek Des Bordes the Supreme standout, but will the hood keep a lid on his temperament?

2.00 Cheltenham: 'He's in the best possible shape he can be in' - is this the one to beat the Willie Mullins hotpot in the Arkle?

3.20 Cheltenham: The late and controversial switch leaves the Mares' Hurdle open to Lossiemouth - can anyone stop last year's winner?

4.00 Cheltenham: 'They'll go a good gallop, but that won't worry Constitution Hill' - Nicky Henderson undaunted as superstar faces stiff challenge

4.40 Cheltenham: 'We're in the best shape we can be and we're full of confidence' - top trainers bid to solve Fred Winter puzzle

5.20 Cheltenham: 'The further he goes, the better he is' - strong stayer Haiti Couleurs out to fulfil long-term National Hunt Chase plan