Kim Bailey targeting the Ultima again as entries revealed for the nine Cheltenham Festival handicaps

Chianti Classico will bid to go one better than his one-time stablemate Happygolucky in the Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50) at the Cheltenham Festival, with trainer Kim Bailey having his eyes firmly set on the race for the seven-year-old.

Chianti Classico was among 76 entries for the 3m1f handicap on the opening day of the festival, while he also holds entries in the National Hunt Novices’ Chase (5.30) and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (5.30) at next month’s meeting.

However, Bailey is confident the Ultima is the right option for Chianti Classico, who has won twice and been second on his three runs over fences so far this season.

He said: “The Ultima is where we want to go with him, but we’ve entered him in the other races as back ups just in case. We want to go to Cheltenham with him, so if the ground wasn’t right for the Ultima, or he trod on a stone and needed an extra day or whatever, then we have those races to fall back on. 

“We decided after his good run at Kempton last time that we would go straight to Cheltenham. It was a case of going for either the Coral Trophy this weekend or to Cheltenham — he couldn’t do both — so Cheltenham was the one we decided on.”

Three years ago, Happygolucky finished second to Vintage Clouds in the Ultima having been sent off the 100-30 favourite to provide Bailey with a second victory in the race, which he won with Betty’s Boy in 1999.

Like Happygolucky, Chianti Classico will be having only his fourth start over fences at the Cheltenham Festival, but Bailey does not feel the lack of experience will prove problematic for Sir Francis Brooke and Richard Pilkington’s runner.

“He’s a similar horse to Happygolucky and he’s at the right end of the handicap for a race of this nature,” Bailey added. “He jumped very well last time and I don’t think that the race will cause him any difficulties in that regard.”

Trelawne, a stablemate of Chianti Classico, also featured in the entries for the Ultima and the Kim Muir, although Bailey suggested he was more likely to run in the 3m novice handicap chase at Uttoxeter on Midlands Grand National day.

A combined 588 entries have been made for the Cheltenham Festival handicapsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

A total of 588 entries were made on Tuesday for the nine handicaps at next month’s festival, which was a minor increase on last year’s figure of 585 but well below the 654 entries in 2022 and 676 in 2021. Of the 588 entries, 272 are from Ireland, representing 46 per cent of the total. Last year, initial Irish entries for the handicaps accounted for 45 per cent of the total.

Irish representation is particularly stark in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.50) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, with 30 of the 47 entries trained in Ireland (64 per cent), including the Joseph O’Brien-trained ante-post favourite Lark In The Mornin. The race has attracted fewer entries this year with 55 horses having been entered at the same stage in 2023. 

Last year’s winner Langer Dan is among the entries for Wednesday's Coral Cup (2.50). Sa Majeste has also been prominent in the ante-post market and is entered, although he has the option of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle too. My Mate Mozzie, Saint Roi and Madara feature among the possible Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (4.50) field, but Etalon and Douglas Talking were noteworthy absentees. 

On Thursday, last year's first and second Angels Dawn and Stumptown could clash again in the Kim Muir (5.30). Icare Allen, Gaoth Chuil and last year’s winner Good Time Jonny have been included in the Pertemps Final (2.10), while Ga Law, James Du Berlais and Crebilly are among the entries for the Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase (4.10).  

The final day's County Hurdle (2.10) features recent Betfair Hurdle winner Iberico Lord, with Luccia, Zenta, Absurde and King Of Kingsfield others to note. Among the entries for the Martin Pipe (5.30) is No Ordinary Joe, who finished second to Iroko in last year's running.

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