Chianti Classico digs deep for Ultima honours

Kim Bailey’s

Chianti Classico

produced a smooth round of jumping to take the Ultima Handicap Chase for and .

The gelding was one of two runners in the contest for Bailey, and after Trelawne fell early on it was left to his stablemate to carry the hopes of the yard.

He did so dutifully and travelled well throughout to turn for home full of running and claim victory at 6-1, getting British trainers off the mark for the week.

Bass said: “It meant a lot, it’s actually quite a good feeling to win here. It’s a privilege to ride these horses. It’s hard to win here though – 2020 was the last time and it’s been too long.”

Bailey said: “I thought at one stage ‘oh no, David is getting too brave’, but he jumped for fun and was cantering coming down the hill wasn’t he?

“David has been confident the whole way through, so he was right. He was absolutely adamant from day one he was riding this horse (instead of Trelawne). He adores the horse and says he’s a complete terrier, and he’s done that today like a terrier.

“He’s as hard as nails, he’s not very big but he’s got so much ability and is so agile, he always has been.

“When Aiden Murphy and I bought him, we said we’d bring him here, but I never thought it would actually happen!

“We’ve been knocking at the door for a while, so it’s great for everybody that we got it today. It’s huge for team, having a runner at is what it’s all about.

“Today has been the plan for a long time, we trained him for today.”

On Bass, he joked: “I’m not sure he’s that special, we’ve been trying to get rid of him for ages. We’ve got nothing in common, I’m not a vegan anyway!

“He’s been a huge supporter of the yard and we’ve been together for 11 years now. He’s a do-or-die pilot and I thought he was quite reserved today!”

There was, however, a sad postscript to the race as it was confirmed Highland Hunter had suffered a fatal injury.

Trained by Fergal O'Brien, the grey was formerly with Paul Nicholls, where he was the favourite horse of the late Keagan Kirkby, whose funeral procession he led last week.

O'Brien posted on X: "Absolutely devastated. Thanks for the messages we're already receiving and those to come."

David Bass told ITV Racing: “Obviously we had two in the race and when the rain came this morning, I was panicking I had the wrong one! But I knew I was on the right one. What a lovely horse. He just travelled everywhere, jumped, I was going round thinking, ‘there’s a big race at Liverpool that I would love to ride him in next year!’

“I got past Paddy going down the hill and he said to me to go on. I thought, ‘I’ve got to try and  fill up’, because the ground is bad, but he’s done it well in the end. I was there miles too soon, but he’s got a touch of class. It’s brilliant for the owners, brilliant for the yard. We’ve been a bit quiet, but we can get them to the big day in good form.

“It meant a lot – it’s quite a good feeling winning here! It’s an absolute privilege to ride good horses here. I’m so lucky. It’s hard to win here, 2020 was the last time I rode a winner here – that’s too long.”

The jockey added: “It’s an amazing feeling. I will be honest, I made the decision pretty quickly to ride him, and then the rain came yesterday and this morning, and I was starting to doubt my decision. I hope Trelawne is alright - I didn’t realise he fell, and he’s a very good horse. I hope he’s alright and can go again next year. I thought I’d made the right decision, and then once I’d jumped a few I was confident. He’s so straightforward and he loves jumping. It was basically trying not to get there too soon, which I didn’t manage anyway! I managed to get to the front and get a breather into him, get over the last two and he had a little pecck at the last, but he picked up well and I think he’s won quite well in the end.  He’s a progressive horse and exciting.

“Halfway round, I was thinking about Liverpool next year. He reminds me of The Last Samauri - he’s not overbig, but he’s on springs when he jumps. He loves jumping. I’d love to have a go at that race,  but we’ll see what happens between now and then.

“Between Kim, the of the team and Matt, the assistant, we try and get it right for the big days. We’ve been quiet numberwise this season and it’s been really frustrating. I’ve never lost faith in the team to get a good horse ready for the big day. Kim and I are very honest with each other; he leaves me to it now and maybe that’s why it works.

“It’s been too long [since he was last in the Festival winner’s enclosure] - that feeling’s the best feeling in the world. Riding horses here, good horses, is a privilege but I know how hard it is to win here. I should have ridden more Festival winners than I did - I probably should have ridden a couple for Nicky Henderson when I was a claimer quite a few years ago now, and it took me too long to get one on the board. I know how hard it is and I really appreciate it.”

Sir Francis Brooke, joint-owner, told ITV Racing: “Huge win, and for my friend Richard Pilkington. He jumped beautifully and David rode a spectacular race. He loves the horse and has ridden so many winners for us, it’s just the most exciting afternoon.”

Richard Pilkington, joint-owner, told ITV Racing: “It’s every dream come true, apart from personal things of course! It was fantastic.

“Oh my God what a thrill! Come racing, it’s a wonderful sport and you can get this thrill – all of us who backed him, owned him, have been in touch with this horse, it happens to everyone.”

Beau Morgan, rider of runner-up Twig, said: “This morning we were debating even running this horse. He wants better ground, and I rang my mum and my brother, and spoke to Ben, and we said, he might need the run, he won’t like the ground, we can prep him for Aintree - and he’s run like that. Second four times round here now on him, but for my first ever race at teh Festival, to come second, I’m absolutely delighted.”

Ben Pauling, trainer of runner-up Twig, said: “I’m delighted I didn’t think he’d go a yard on the ground. Beau just gave him a lovely ride, had him in the right position the whole way. It’s his first ride at the Festival,  and if I am completely honest, if it hadn’t been I’d have pulled the horse out this morning. This place - you just never know, so you  have to roll the dice and see how you go. He will be a lot better on better ground, so that was a hell of a prep run.”