Cheltenham Festival 2017 – Un Temps Pour Tout carries top weight to victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase
David Pipe's eight-year-old recorded back-to-back victories in the race as he narrowly held off the challenge of Singlefarmpayment
UN TEMPS POUR TOUT put up a brave performance to take the Ultima Handicap Chase under top weight.
Last year's winner arrived at the Festival higher in the weights but that didn't stop him.
He held off the challenge of Singlefarmpayment narrowly as the judge had to split them in a photo finish.
Noble Endeavour finished third, a long way clear of Buywise in fourth.
Pipe said of the winner: "I'm absolutely thrilled and Tom has given him an amazing ride.
"It was a great performance from the horse under top weight and it was a tougher race than last year, I thought.
"He found a lot under pressure, he's not very big but he finds a lot and he's a good horse on a going day."
We fancied him in the Hennessy and he didn't perform that day.
"You could tell from an early stage he was going to run a big race.
"He's very gutsy. He's some horse."
Scudamore said: "Pipe's a genius, nothing more needs to be said.
"He's a different horse in the spring and he loves the hill. I knew halfway up the run-in I'd win, he's so tough.
"I'm so pleased for everyone.
"Some days he just doesn't fancy it.
Cheltenham Tips: Naps from Matt Chapman, Templegate, Sam Twiston-Davies and Jon Francome
- Sam Twiston-Davies: Foxhunters Steeple Chase - Wonderful Charm
- Matt Chapman: Ryanair Chase - Un de Sceaux
- John Francome: JCB Triumph Hurdle - Defi Du Seuil
- Templegate: Gold Cup - Native River
"In the Hennessy he ran no sort of a race at all but you know the ability is there as he's a French Champion Hurdle winner.
"I wish I could ask him - he's a funny horse, for sure.
"I don't see why one day he couldn't be a National horse, but this year we've got Vieux Lion Rouge.
"One day he'll be in a National of sorts, I'm sure.
"He might go back to France, but I'll leave all that to David."
Trainer Tom George said of the runner-up Singlefarmpayment: "I'm thrilled with him, it has just gone the wrong way on the line.
"It did look like he was getting back up again but he has ran a big race.
"He ran a great race and jumped well.
"Everything went right except the result didn't go our way at the end."