2.50 3m. 1f. 21 Declared. Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £125,000.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €70,338.00 2nd - €26,500.00 3rd - €13,262.00 4th - €6,625.00 5th - €3,325.00 6th - €1,662.00 7th - €825.00 8th - €425.00
Formscan - A contest that has become a UK benefit over the years with Ireland having only won it twice since 2000, most recently with Dun Doire in 2006, but their challenge appears to be much stronger than usual, headed by Paddy Power Chase winner MEETINGOFTHEWATERS. A slow burner initially over fences, he followed up a beginners chase success at Cork to land that valuable prize at Leopardstown over Christmas before an unlucky first-fence unseat at the Dublin Racing Festival. Willie Mullins is yet to win a handicap chase at the meeting, but the fact his charge still remains unexposed over 3m, along with having conditions to suit, gives him every chance of taking another step forward. The Goffer (fourth) was held by Monbeg Genius (third) in a vintage renewal of this race 12 months ago, finishing behind the Gold Cup-bound Corach Rambler and Fastorslow. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the form reversed, especially given the latter's disappointing recent Kelso effort. Stumptown returned to his best here on New Year's Day when beating a progressive type of Jonjo O'Neill's and is respected off a 6lb higher mark. Of the English contenders, Kim Bailey saddles a pair of interesting runners in Chianti Classico, twice a winner over fences, and Trelawne, who has the services of Harry Cobden, but the pair need to prove themselves in a much bigger field than they are usually accustomed to.