Corach Rambler has won the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for the second year in a row, and was promptly made the new favourite for this year’s Grand National.
Derek Fox held the Lucinda Russell trained 9 year old up in midfield until three fences out, when he made his move and charged through the field. Fastorslow and Monbeg Genius put up a brave fight, but ultimately couldn’t match Corach Rambler’s late pace, with the crowd cheering the 6/1 joint favourite home by a neck.
Many of the best betting sites reacted to Corach Rambler’s impressive run immediately, slashing his odds for April’s Aintree showpiece from 12/1 and making him the new 8/1 favourite.
Noble Yeats had headed the Grand National betting previously and will go into the race as the defending champion. Before that though, he’ll have a chance to respond to Corach Rambler’s performance by taking on the likes of Galopin des Champs in Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Elsewhere on day one at the Festival, Marine Nationale upset the odds in the opener by seeing off pre-race favourite Facile Vega, before El Fabiolo won the Arkle on his Cheltenham debut.
