The Festival Trophy is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase held in the United Kingdom for horses aged five and above. It is raced over a distance of around 3 miles and 1 furlong (5,029 meters) on the Old Course at Cheltenham, and there are twenty fences to leap throughout the race. It’s a handicap race that takes place every year on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The event was originally called the National Hunt Handicap Chase, but since the early 1980s, it has been renamed to include the name of a sponsor. Ritz Club sponsored it from 1981 to 1996, Astec Buzz Shop in 1997, and William Hill from 1998 to 2010. The race was renamed the Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase in 2011 and was sponsored by the Stewart family, led by businessman and racehorse owner Andy Stewart, to increase awareness and showcase the charity’s work. JLT Specialty Ltd sponsored the race in 2012 and 2013, while Baylis & Harding sponsored the race in 2014. Ultima Business Solutions has sponsored the race since 2015.
The race’s winners often compete in the Grand National, albeit not usually in the same year. Royal Tan, Team Spirit, West Tip, Seagram, and Rough Quest are among the horses that have won both competitions.
Table of Contents
The Ultima Handicap Chase Winner List 1946-2022
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Dunnshaughlin | 8 | Bobby O'Ryan | Charles Rogers |
| 1948 | Cavaliero | 7 | Ted Vinall | Fred Rimell |
| 1949 | Frere Jacques II | 7 | Ted Vinall | Fred Rimell |
| 1950 | Silver Fame | 11 | Martin Molony | George Beeby |
| 1951 | Land Fort | 7 | Johnny Bullock | Fred Rimell |
| 1952 | Royal Tan | 8 | Phonsie O'Brien[b] | Vincent O'Brien |
| 1953 | Four Ten | 7 | Tommy Cusack | John Roberts |
| 1954 | Holly Bank | 7 | Peter Brookshaw[b] | Fred Rimell |
| 1955 | Limber Hill | 8 | Tim Molony | Bill Dutton |
| 1956 | Kerstin | 6 | George Milburn | Verly Bewicke |
| 1957 | Sentina | 7 | Pat Taaffe | Tom Dreaper |
| 1958 | Sentina | 8 | Tom Taaffe | Tom Dreaper |
| 1959 | Winning Coin | 7 | Dave Dick | George Beeby |
| 1960 | Isle of Skye | 9 | Tony Keen | Alec Kilpatrick |
| 1961 | Ravencroft | 8 | Fred Winter | Fulke Walwyn |
| 1962 | Longtail | 7 | Stan Mellor | Dick Curran |
| 1963 | Team Spirit | 11 | Willie Robinson | Fulke Walwyn |
| 1964 | Prudent Barney | 10 | Terry Biddlecombe | Bobby Renton |
| 1965 | Rondetto | 9 | Johnny Haine | Bob Turnell |
| 1966 | Arkloin | 7 | Pat Taaffe | Tom Dreaper |
| 1967 | Different Class | 7 | David Mould | Peter Cazalet |
| 1968 | Battledore | 7 | Kit Stobbs | Arthur Stephenson |
| 1969 | Chancer | 7 | Pat McCarron | Charlie Hall |
| 1970 | Charter Flight | 8 | Andrew Turnell | Bob Turnell |
| 1971 | Lord Jim | 10 | Johnny Haine | Fulke Walwyn |
| 1972 | Jomon | 6 | David Mould | Harry Thomson Jones |
| 1973 | The Chisler | 7 | Michael Dickinson | Tony Dickinson |
| 1974 | Cuckolder | 9 | Andrew Turnell | Bob Turnell |
| 1975 | King Flame | 9 | John Francome | Richard Head |
| 1976 | Barmer | 8 | Jimmy McNaught | Robin Blakeney |
| 1977 | Gay Vulgan | 9 | Bill Smith | Fulke Walwyn |
| 1979 | Fair View | 9 | Ridley Lamb | George Fairbairn |
| 1980 | Again the Same | 7 | Jim Wilson[b] | John Edwards |
| 1981 | Current Gold | 10 | Neale Doughty | Gordon W. Richards |
| 1982 | Scot Lane | 9 | Craig Smith | Martin Tate |
| 1983 | Scot Lane | 10 | Craig Smith | Martin Tate |
| 1984 | Tracys Special | 7 | Steve Knight | Andrew Turnell |
| 1985 | West Tip | 8 | Richard Dunwoody | Michael Oliver |
| 1986 | Charter Party | 8 | Peter Scudamore | David Nicholson |
| 1987 | Gainsay | 8 | Ben de Haan | Jenny Pitman |
| 1988 | Aquilifer | 8 | Paul Croucher | David Murray Smith |
| 1989 | Dixton House | 10 | Tom Morgan | John Edwards |
| 1990 | Bigsun | 9 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson |
| 1991 | Seagram | 11 | Nigel Hawke | David Barons |
| 1992 | Tipping Tim | 7 | Carl Llewellyn | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 1993 | Givus a Buck | 10 | Paul Holley | David Elsworth |
| 1994 | Antonin | 6 | John Burke | Sue Bramall |
| 1995 | Rough Quest | 9 | Mick Fitzgerald | Terry Casey |
| 1996 | Maamur | 8 | Andrew Thornton | Tim Forster |
| 1997 | Flyer's Nap | 11 | David Bridgwater | Robert Alner |
| 1998 | Unguided Missile | 10 | Paul Carberry | Gordon W. Richards |
| 1999 | Betty's Boy | 10 | Norman Williamson | Kim Bailey |
| 2000 | Marlborough | 8 | Mick Fitzgerald | Nicky Henderson |
| 2002 | Frenchman's Creek | 8 | Paul Carberry | Hughie Morrison |
| 2003 | Youlneverwalkalone | 9 | Barry Geraghty | Christy Roche |
| 2004 | Fork Lightning | 8 | Robert Thornton | Alan King |
| 2005 | Kelami | 7 | Robert Thornton | François Doumen |
| 2006 | Dun Doire | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Tony Martin |
| 2007 | Joes Edge | 10 | Davy Russell | Ferdy Murphy |
| 2008 | An Accordion | 7 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
| 2009 | Wichita Lineman | 8 | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2010 | Chief Dan George | 10 | Paddy Aspell | James Moffatt |
| 2011 | Bensalem | 8 | Robert Thornton | Alan King |
| 2012 | Alfie Sherrin | 9 | Richie McLernon | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2013 | Golden Chieftain | 8 | Brendan Powell Jnr | Colin Tizzard |
| 2014 | Holywell | 7 | Richie McLernon | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2015 | The Druids Nephew | 8 | Barry Geraghty | Neil Mulholland |
| 2016 | Un Temps Pour Tout | 7 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
| 2017 | Un Temps Pour Tout | 8 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
| 2018 | Coo Star Sivola | 6 | Lizzie Kelly | Nick Williams |
| 2019 | Beware The Bear | 9 | Jeremiah McGrath | Nicky Henderson |
| 2020 | The Conditional | 8 | Brendan Powell Jnr | David Bridgwater |
| 2021 | Vintage Clouds | 11 | Ryan Mania | Sue Smith |
| 2022 | Corach Rambler | 8 | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell |
What is the total distance to be covered in the The Ultima Handicap Chase?
3m 1f (5,029 meters)
What is the Surface of The Ultima Handicap Chase?
The race will be on Turf Surface.
What is the minimum age requirement for The Ultima Handicap Chase 2023?
The age of the runner must be more than 5 years.
What Channel is The Ultima Handicap Chase 2023 on?
The Ultima Handicap Chase 2023 will be broadcasted on iTV1 and Racing TV. Besides this, you can approach various online streaming media services to watch the race live.
When is The Ultima Handicap Chase 2023?
The Ultima Handicap Chase 2023 is scheduled to happen on day one of Cheltenham Festival 2023, which is 14th March 2023.
What Time will the Ultima Handicap Chase 2023 Begin?
The Ultima Handicap Chase 2023 will begin at 14:50 UK time.
Where will be The Ultima Handicap Chase 2023?
The Ultima Handicap Chase is to happen on the Old Course at Cheltenham.
What is the Purse for The Ultima Handicap Chase 2023?
The purse for The Ultima Handicap Chase 2022 is expected to be somewhat near £100,000. In 2021, the winner took home £70,338 from the total prize pool of £125,000.
What are the Most Successful Horses for The Ultima Handicap Chase?
Here are the most successful horses with two wins:
- Sentina – 1957, 1958
- Scot Lane – 1982, 1983
- Un Temps Pour Tout – 2016, 2017
Who are the Successful Jockey in The Ultima Handicap Chase History?
Here are a few of the jockeys with up to 3 wins with different horses.
- Robert Thornton – Fork Lightning (2004), Kelami (2005), Bensalem (2011)
- Tom Scudamore – An Accordion (2008), Un Temps Pour Tout (2016, 2017)
Who are the leading trainer in The Ultima Handicap Chase History?
Here is the most successful trainer in The Ultima Handicap Chase History with 4 wins.
- Fred Rimell: Cavaliero (1948), Frere Jacques II (1949), Land Fort (1951), Holly Bank (1954)
- Fulke Walwyn: Ravencroft (1961), Team Spirit (1963), Lord Jim (1971), Gay Vulgan (1977)
Who won the Ultima Handicap Chase?
Corach Rambler won The Ultima Handicap Chase of 2022.