Chianti Classico (6-1) stormed home to land the Ultima Handicap Chase on the opening day at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival to give Cheltenham trainer Kim Bailey a 'home' win.
There were 13 of the 23 runners who lined up in the Ultima also hold an entry in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on April 13. Noble Yeats had finished sixth in the race before his victory in the Grand National two years' ago and last year's winner Corach Rambler – who grabbed back-to-back successes in the 3m2f Cheltenham contest – also went to land the Aintree showpiece. But it was Kim Bailey's Chianti Classico– who is not entered in next month's big one at the famous Liverpool track – who took the glory under David Bass.
The seven-year-old was always up near the head of affairs throughout and coming to the second to last fence, he moved through to lead and battle with eventual runner-up Twig (28-1). But Chianti Classico went clear coming to the last and stayed on best up the Cheltenham hill to score by four-and-a-half lengths.
Willie Mullins' Meetingofthewaters (6-1) did best of those with an entry in the Grand National, finishing third a length-and-a-quarter further back. Another Aintree possible, Famous Bridge – in the late Trevor Hemmings colours – was another six lengths back in fourth.
Bailey won the Grand National with Mr Frisk in 1990 and also completed the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup double in 1995 with Alderbrook and Master Oats respectively. He was landing his sixth winner at the Festival but his first since Imperial Aura won the Northern Trust Company Novices' Handicap Chase four years ago.
Latest entries and weights for the 2024 Grand National
Bailey, who trains at Thorndale Farm in Andoversford in Cheltenham,
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