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Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase 2018

Before I go chucking Pts at Singlefarmpayment for this race has there been any negative news regarding the horse when I was away?

10/1 NRNB for a horse that loves Cheltenham and has placed festival form is enough for me to want to get involved, so opinions welcome!

The other one I like is Beware The Bear, only once out of the placings over this sort of trip, still lightly raced for his age and possibly a reason why Nicky is keeping Gold Present in the betting, to hold the price of this one (of course this is a weak argument, but something I like to keep an eye on), 20/1 NRNB is good enough for me too!
 
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I don’t think you’ve missed anything mate, and he’s a horse I’ve followed fairly closely. Entered up this weekend which suggests all is fine. He could screw his mark though if they go for the Cotswold and run well. On the other hand if he bombs out against a tough field of graded performers that wouldn’t exactly be the ideal prep for a big festival handicap. I’m surprised they’re not preserving his mark for this and then perhaps onto the National – maybe he needs keeping busy, was given a prep for the Hennessy when many go straight there. I’m more tempted by the 14s with Hills concession than the 10s NRNB (only risk is that he takes in the Gold Cup but that surely only happens in the very unlikely event he goes and wins the Cotswold!). I’m feeling more inclined to see what this weekend brings before getting involved. If he misses this weekend altogether I’ll be even more tempted to take that 14s.

Beware the Bear is a right monkey and that would worry me for a big Cheltenham handicap. Liable to lose interest halfway through and that is usually enough to end your chances in a race like this. Looks more like a Scottish National horse to my eyes.
 
Viking Flagship said:
I don’t think you’ve missed anything mate, and he’s a horse I’ve followed fairly closely. Entered up this weekend which suggests all is fine. He could screw his mark though if they go for the Cotswold and run well. On the other hand if he bombs out against a tough field of graded performers that wouldn’t exactly be the ideal prep for a big festival handicap. I’m surprised they’re not preserving his mark for this and then perhaps onto the National – maybe he needs keeping busy, was given a prep for the Hennessy when many go straight there. I’m more tempted by the 14s with Hills concession than the 10s NRNB (only risk is that he takes in the Gold Cup but that surely only happens in the very unlikely event he goes and wins the Cotswold!). I’m feeling more inclined to see what this weekend brings before getting involved. If he misses this weekend altogether I’ll be even more tempted to take that 14s.

Beware the Bear is a right monkey and that would worry me for a big Cheltenham handicap. Liable to lose interest halfway through and that is usually enough to end your chances in a race like this. Looks more like a Scottish National horse to my eyes.
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He is also a cliff horse for me. Interesting what Tom George said though:

"Unfortunately, he fell in the Trophy and ran only OK at Ascot last time. I think we need to change tactics with him...He's very similar to Double Shuffle in that as a young horse you had to drop him out and teach him to settle, but now he does settle I think we can be more positive on him."

PaddyPower paying 3 places for 40/1 for the Cotswolds. And someone had a nibble at the Gold Cup market in the last couple of days. Not saying he'd be good enough to win a Gold Cup but owners might be tempted by prize money in place markets rather than the prize money they've got in the last year.
 
That's really interesting as I was literally thinking about Double Shuffle as I wrote my post, but more in the sense that Tom George now has a Gold Cup candidate which makes SFP taking this route even less likely (albeit different owners). Those comments suggest they might test the water this weekend in the Cotswold which would actually give even more reason to hanging fire on SFP bets for the Ultima... if he runs well this weekend they'll go for Gold, if he doesn't run well then they'll go for this race but highly unlikely to shorten in the betting and may in fact drift a couple of points. Then you can make your own judgement as to how decent a prep it was for this race.
 
Viking Flagship said:
That's really interesting as I was literally thinking about Double Shuffle as I wrote my post, but more in the sense that Tom George now has a Gold Cup candidate which makes SFP taking this route even less likely (albeit different owners). Those comments suggest they might test the water this weekend in the Cotswold which would actually give even more reason to hanging fire on SFP bets for the Ultima... if he runs well this weekend they'll go for Gold, if he doesn't run well then they'll go for this race but highly unlikely to shorten in the betting and may in fact drift a couple of points. Then you can make your own judgement as to how decent a prep it was for this race.
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According to someone who knows the trainer, double shuffle isn’t goinf to run at Cheltenham. So I heard the other day somewhere.


Can’t rememebr for the life of me where I heard that though so don’t quote me on it.
 
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Cheers MOM - looks a good type for the Aintree Bowl so could be a shrewd move.
 
Thanks guys.

I'm struggling to see any part of his form that would even be considered Gold Cup material, so based on this I am happy to stick some pts on him for this race :)
 
COD,
Would you be worried with his form this season?
 
doctorwu said:
COD,
Would you be worried with his form this season?
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Not at all, his seasonal debut was solid, and had he not been so far back he may well have won that day too, his second run he was staying on when fell, albeit I don't think he would have won, but it would have been a fair run given the quality of that race, and his last race you could say he was never in it but it was by no means a bad run.

His course form is 1-1-B-2-2 which, for me, is a big positive.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
Not at all, his seasonal debut was solid, and had he not been so far back he may well have won that day too, his second run he was staying on when fell, albeit I don't think he would have won, but it would have been a fair run given the quality of that race, and his last race you could say he was never in it but it was by no means a bad run.

His course form is 1-1-B-2-2 which, for me, is a big positive.
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He just doesn't look the same horse this season. I was really positive for his chances last year but not so this year. I'll probably still back him but not to the extent I did last year.
 
doctorwu said:
He just doesn't look the same horse this season. I was really positive for his chances last year but not so this year. I'll probably still back him but not to the extent I did last year.
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His last run puts me off slightly but he is now only 3 lbs higher than he was at the festival last season. He'll be one I'll be watching with interest this weekend, that's for sure.
 
Thats the problem FM. carrying 3lbs more and not in the same form. He couldn't win the race last year, although thats a tad harsh.
 
doctorwu said:
Thats the problem FM. carrying 3lbs more and not in the same form. He couldn't win the race last year, although thats a tad harsh.
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He probably hit the front too soon last season imo but if that is the case he's going to be a difficult horse to win with.
 
Road to riches 146.

Is he gone at the game. Or still got it off that mark at this level?
 
As there appears to have been a little nibble I have added Gold Present.

If he goes I presume he has two options, this race or the Ryanair. Having gone up in trip it seems unlikely they will go back, particularly in a Grade 1. This race will almost certainly not have a big weight range and most of the improvers will be kept out by old timers having a day out. The horse is a terrific jumper and might just have enough class.
 
On ITV yesterday they mentioned Gold Present getting a hike on the back of Frodons win yesterday is this possible I didn't think it was. They basically said Nicky should run GP before he gets reassessed.
 
Scooby91 said:
Road to riches 146.

Is he gone at the game. Or still got it off that mark at this level?
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Gone at the game probably.

Too elaborate as a plot horse?

Like More of That without the colours :highly_amused:
 
There was no entry for Singlefarmpayment in the National today. Has anyone heard of everything was ok after he pulled up on Saturday?
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
There was no entry for Singlefarmpayment in the National today. Has anyone heard of everything was ok after he pulled up on Saturday?
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I don't know but I do know he has been a pretty frustrating horse for punters. I was on at 25/1 (some had taken bigger) on Saturday and at last year's Festival when he was the winner everywhere bar the line. He is only 8 but I wouldn't be in a rush to part with any more cash. They did say they were going to ride him more prominently on Saturday so what was he doing out the back in the first place? A number of people have talked Heskin up but I have my doubts about him lasting.
 
Not sure you can attach any blame on Heskin for those rides. He has been a bit of a cliff horse for me too. I was considering backing him again for this but much prefer Gold Present, whose form took a boost with Frodon winning on Saturday.
 
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