2016 Cheltenham Festival ante post plays: Upswing the Ultima choice

The gelding was held-up at the rear by jockey Barry Geraghty before making stealthy headway three from home and staying on strongly after the last to go down by just 1 1/4 lengths.

It was a most taking performance for one so inexperienced and, although Upswing has been raised 3lb for it, he remains unexposed over fences and open to stacks more improvement.

Form of Cheltenham run very strong

Sausolito Sunrise, from whom Upswing was receiving just 5lb, has also gone on to land a valuable handicap chase at Ascot and is now rated 163.

That gives the form a strong look and suggests that Upswing is ahead of the assessor and potentially very well-treated off a mark of 139.

I am also more than prepared to put a line through Upswing’s run in the Welsh Grand National, as he was never travelling at any stage on horrendous ground.

Connections have also resisted the temptation to run the son of Beneficial again before the Festival, presumably as they believe Upswing is well handicapped and want to protect his mark.

O’Neill is the master at getting his horses spot on for the big day, and Upswing looks to have the perfect profile to run a huge race in the Ultima.

Related

Be sure to visit Coral’s Cheltenham page for all the latest news and tips in the build-up and during the Festival.

Coral’s ante post play: Upswing each-way at 16/1 for the Ultima Handicap Chase.