RegisterLog in
  • Home
  • Cheltenham Festival
  • Day One Tips

Ultima Handicap Chase 2026 Tips - Two home runners to note on Champions' Day

jon-vine
Jon Vine
Editor
Last updated: Sun 08 Mar 2026 12:41
The 2026 Ultima Handicap Chase is a premier event in the Cheltenham Festival, known for its historical fondness for British-trained horses. With key trends showing a penchant for horses winning over at least 3 miles, the race is set for March 10, 2026, at 3:20 pm. Notable tips for this year include Wendigo, carrying promising odds of 12/1, and Imperial Saint, a strong contender at 20/1. Betting on Wendigo in the Non-Runner No Bet market offers high potential, while Imperial Saint's staying ability makes him a viable option.
Share
jon-vine
Jon Vine 08 Mar 2026
Share this article
Or copy link
success image
Copy
  • Predictions and best bets for the 2026 Ultima Handicap Chase
  • This handicap takes place on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on March 10th
  • Wendigo (12/1) and Imperial Saint (20/1) features in our selections
ultima handicap chase
The Ultima Handicap Chase. (Getty)

The fourth race up on Champions' Day is the Ultima Handicap Chase, a staying handicap over fences in which British horses boast an excellent record.

We've analysed the field set to take part in this year's race to bring you our Ultima tips for 2026, including our best bets, key trends and race verdict.

Last Updated: 28.02.2026

Race Info


Race Ultima Handicap Chase
Date Tuesday, March 10th, 2026
Start Time 3:20pm
Status Premier Handicap
Distance 3m1f
First Prize £84,405
Going NA
Runners 62
Favourite Jagwar (6/1)

2025 Ultima Handicap Chase Key Trends


  • 11 of the last 11 winners were trained in Britain
  • 11 of the last 11 winners had won over at least 3m
  • 10 of the last 11 winners returned an SP of 11/1 or shorter
  • 10 of the last 11 winners recorded a Top 5 finish on their most recent start
  • 10 of the last 11 winners had run at least once that year
  • 9 of the last 11 winners had won or placed around Cheltenham
  • 9 of the last 11 winners were seven, eight or nine years old
  • 8 of the last 11 winners carried between 10-10 and 11-8

After Iroko failed to show up in the final field for the Premier Chase at Kelso, it was announced that the Grand National favourite would run here before going on to Aintree. Iroko will carry top-weight off his mark of 157, and Jonjo O'Neill Jr will likely keep his ride, leaving Mark Walsh - or even Harry Cobden - to ride favourite Jagwar.

Cheltenham Festival form is massively important, and Jagwar looked like he wanted a longer trip when second to Donnacha on Trials Day. Iroko's presence in the field would leave the favourite carrying 11-9, and last year's Plate winner is certainly classy enough to win with that weight on his back.

The flag-start to last year's Ultima played into the hands of Myretown, who dominated from the front. Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore's charge has jumped poorly on his three starts since, and remains on a lofty rating of 142. His stablemate, King Of Answers has had an almost identical novice campaign to Myretown, but I'm not sure whether he's as classy as his stablemate and travels to Cheltenham with a mark of 140, which seems rather high for what he's actually achieved.

2026 Ultima Handicap Chase Tips


Bet Type
Name
Odds (28.2.26)
Win (Non-Runner No Bet)Wendigo12/1
Value BetImperial Saint20/1
Note: These selections are subject to change. All of my selections will be finalised once the fields have been confirmed.

As Jamie Snowden said following WENDIGO'S (12/1) recent victory at Ayr, his John Francome winner is the best three-mile novice chaser in Britain. Snowden also reiterated that the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase remains the goal for his stable star - who finished fifth in the Albert Bartlett on his Festival debut 12 months ago.

Final Demand is still the favourite for the Brown Advisory. Willie Mullins' star will take on a healthy, talented field, with Kaid d'Authie, The Big Westerner, Western Fold, Oscars Brother, Kitzbuhel and Salver likely to be confirmed in the field. Multiple Grade One winner Romeo Coolio remains a potential runner too.

I think Jamie Snowden would be missing a trick by not running Wendigo in the Ultima - which has, historically, been very kind to British novice chasers.

Gavin Sheehan's mount is proven on all kinds of ground, stays three miles well and does his best work when going left-handed. Iroko's presence would see Wendigo carry just 11-4 into the Ultima, and he would have a massive, massive chance if rerouted from the Brown Advisory. For me, Wendigo is probably the best non-runner no bet wager of the entire Cheltenham Festival.

undefined
Imperial Saint (second right) tries to chase down Cruz Control in the Freebooter Handicap Chase at Aintree. (Getty)

I was part of the monster gamble that landed when IMPERIAL SAINT (20/1) won the Peter Marsh at Haydock. Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's star could have been backed at 25/1 when the field was confirmed, but ended up going off at 7/2, and got up in the nick of time to claim a narrow victory.

I'd been itching to back Imperial Saint over three miles all season long, and Callum Pritchard's mount saw out 25-and-a-half furlongs strongly. In their stable tour, Hobbs and White said that the Ultima is the plan, and I can't let Imperial Saint go unbacked at his current price.

This eight-year-old has only had two starts over three miles or further in his life, finished first at Haydock and a close second to Cruz Control in the Freebooter at Aintree last spring. Imperial Saint has raced at Cheltenham twice, placing a close third in the 2025 Betfair Exchange Handicap on Trials Day, before a sixth-place finish behind Glengouly in this season's December Gold Cup.

Both races were run over 2m4f on the New Course, and I'm convinced that the Ultima course-and-distance will be much more suitable. Soft ground on Champions' Day would be ideal too, and Imperial Saint is still well-treated off a mark of 144.

Live Stream


Visit our Cheltenham Festival Live Stream page if you want to watch any race during the week via a mobile or tablet.

Ultima 2026 FAQs

When is the Ultima Handicap Chase 2026?

The Ultima Handicap Chase will take place on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 10th March, 2026.

What time does the Ultima go off?

The Ultima Handicap Chase is scheduled to start at 3:20pm on March 10th.

Where can I watch the 2026 Ultima?

The Ultima Handicap Chase will be shown live on ITV Racing. You can also stream the race live on a mobile device. Head to our website for more information.

Verdict

Wendigo would have a huge chance if taken down the Ultima route, and there's no downside to backing him at 12/1 in the Non-Runner No Bet market.

Imperial Saint remains unexposed over staying trips, and this year's Peter Marsh Chase winner remains well-handicapped. He's another solid option at 20/1.

Best Bet1: Wendigo 2026 Ultima Tips @12/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Best Bet2: Imperial Saint 2026 Ultima Tips @20/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Wendigo
2026 Ultima Tips
@12/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365
Imperial Saint
2026 Ultima Tips
@20/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365

Related

Pages related to this topic

More Cheltenham Festival Tips Cheltenham Day 1 Selections Top Cheltenham Betting Sites Cheltenham Day 1 Promotions

Top Betting Sites

special-offer-1Betting offers

Upcoming Events

27 May 2026

  • Daily Tips on May 27th -
  • Horse Racing

28 May 2026

  • 2026 Brigadier Gerard Stakes -
  • Horse Racing

30 May 2026

  • 2026 Lester Piggott Stakes -
  • Horse Racing
Load More

Latest News

Loading

Early Odds Champion Hurdle 2027 Odds - Lossiemouth favourite to go back-to-back at Cheltenham
Loading

Early Odds Champion Chase 2027 Odds - Il Etait Temps leads Kopek Des Bordes in early market
Loading

Early Odds Stayers' Hurdle 2027 Odds - Ballyburn favourite after near-miss behind Home By The Lee
Loading

Early Odds Cheltenham Gold Cup 2027 Odds - Gaelic Warrior favourite to defend his crown
Loading

Festival Dates When is the 2027 Champion Chase?
Loading

Festival Dates When is the 2027 Stayers' Hurdle?
Loading

Festival Dates When is the 2027 Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Loading

Festival Dates When is the 2027 Champion Hurdle?
Loading

Festival Dates When is the 2027 Cheltenham Festival?
Loading

Day 4 Live Cheltenham Festival 2026 Day 4 - Results and Photos