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Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tips - Pipe's grey the perfect fit for the Ultima

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Last updated: 14 Jan 2025
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Jon Vine 14 Jan 2025
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  • Our third ante-post tip for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
  • We've backed King Turgeon at 20/1 for the 2025 Ultima Handicap Chase
  • The 2025 Ultima will be run at Cheltenham on Tuesday 11th March
king turgeon
Jack Tudor riding King Turgeon (L) clear the last to win The Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase. (Getty)

Here's my third ante-post tip for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, which begins on Tuesday, March 11th.

After today's meeting at Plumpton was called off, I found myself delving through the Cheltenham Festival handicap markets and a potential runner in the Ultima Handicap Chase simply leapt off the page.

2025 Ultima Handicap Chase Tips - King Turgeon


One of the few races at the Cheltenham Festival where Britain has enjoyed consistent success in recent years is the Ultima. It's been almost 20 years since an Irish raider won the first handicap of the meeting, with the Ultima usually going to a progressive chaser with winning experience around Cheltenham.

David Pipe has won this day one contest on three occasions, including back-to-back wins with Un Temps Pour Tout, and I'd be surprised if this wasn't the first race that came to mind when KING TURGEON (20/1) struck during Cheltenham's December Meeting.

Having won just two of his first 13 starts over fences, Pipe's grey has gone from strength to strength this season, winning on all three of his starts. King Turgeon cruised to victory on his reappearance at Chepstow, before putting on a jumping clinic to win the Grand Sefton over the National fences.

Jack Tudor's mount attempted to make the running on his Cheltenham debut in December, but a mistake at the third-last allowed Chianti Classico and Our Power to gain the upper hand. Tudor dropped two lengths behind the leaders when switched out wide on the turn for home, but King Turgeon responded brilliantly, surging back into the lead after a great jump at the last before opening up a three-length lead on the run to the line.

Given his experience, you could hardly call King Turgeon unexposed. However, he's still only seven years old and, as Pipe said after that victory at Cheltenham, Turgeon often produces late bloomers. Pipe's grey was upped a further six pounds to 139, which would usually ensure a lovely racing weight in the Ultima Handicap Chase and King Turgeon has already won over the distance - albeit on the New course. If declared, I'd be surprised if he didn't go off at single figures.

2025 Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Tips


Name
Race
Price Taken
Current Odds
Kopek Des Bordes2025 Turners Novices' Hurdle14/114/1
El Fabiolo2025 Ryanair Chase 7/17/1
King Turgeon2025 Ultima Handicap Chase20/1NA

Verdict

King Turgeon ticks every box when looking for a winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase. Unibet's current price of 20/1 is extremely generous.

Best Bet1: King Turgeon 2025 Ultima Ante-Post Tip @20/1 at Unibet - 10 Units
King Turgeon
2025 Ultima Ante-Post Tip
@20/1 - 10 Units
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