Corach Rambler became just the fourth horse in the history of the Ultima Handicap Chase to win back-to-back editions when he gamely held off Fastorslow to prevail on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
Following in the footsteps of Sentina (1957, 1958), Scot Lane (1982, 1983) and Un Temps Pour Tout (2016, 2017), the nine-year-old gamely held off Fastorslow to become the first British-trained winner at the 2023 festival.
His trainer Lucinda Russell was understandably delighted with the success as she said: “As emotional as Scu and I are, the horse isn’t emotional. He just loves it round here. It’s phenomenal.
“It’s funny - I was so nervous beforehand because the horse means so much and everyone knows that, but Scu and I went in to speak to Derek [Fox], and he was so calm and cool. He said he’d just ride the same as last year - it’s just amazing.
“I think the horse has got quite an interesting mind, but I thought he travelled a bit better relatively close to the pace this time. I am just so proud of him today and so pleased for Scu. To hear that he’s favourite for the Grand National is amazing.”
Corach Rambler had won last year’s race and will now gear up for a tilt at the Grand National after his sixth success since opening his career winning an older maiden at Monksgrange for John Walsh.
The three-mile one furlong Cheltenham contest was dominated by point-to-point graduates as they filled four of the first five placings, with Monbeg Genius (ex-Sean Doyle) in third being followed in by The Goffer (ex- Benny Walsh) and Oscar Elite (ex-Cormac Doyle).
Jonjo O'Neill said of third placed Monbeg Genius:" He ran a cracker and I could not be more pleased with him, except of course, if he had won. He could now go for the Scottish National next month at Ayr but that will be ground dependent as he has to have soft ground.
"If it was on the quick side at Ayr he would not run and we would put him away for this season with a tilt at the Aintree Grand National next Spring at the forefront of our minds."
Gordon Elliott said of fourth placed The Goffer: "He keeps on galloping as he showed there and with that in mind the obvious place to go with him will be the Irish National at Fairyhouse over the Easter holiday as long as he comes out of this race in good heart."
