3:48 Uttoxeter
This Class 4 handicap hurdle over 1m7f168y at Uttoxeter brings together a compact but competitive field of seven where every runner is officially rated in the smart bracket. The KTB Fit scores highlight An Bradan Feasa at the head of the ratings on 70 while the next three principals sit between 56 and 60, suggesting a race that could be decided by which horse handles the drop back in trip or the first-time headgear most effectively. All seven are unproven on the current ground, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to a contest that features some in-form performers stepping up or down in class.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points to a race that should be run at a genuine gallop with several prominent runners likely to contest the early lead. An Bradan Feasa and Machete Beach both tend to race prominently while Romany Brown and King Ulanda can also be forward, setting up a strong early tempo that may stretch those who race more patiently. The key question is whether the pace collapses late or if the prominent types can dictate matters from the front in a race where stamina over this intermediate trip will be tested.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1An Bradan Feasa KTB Selection70/100Smart performer who has shown his ability with placed efforts on his last two starts.
- 2Machete Beach60/100Smart performer who arrives in excellent order after two wins from his last three starts.
- 3Romany Brown56/100Smart performer who has shown strong form at this trip, placing four times from six starts without yet winning.
- 4King Ulanda56/100Smart performer who has won twice at this trip and showed his best form when landing a handicap here in May before a solid run at Worcester last time.
- 5Ask A Sainte56/100Smart performer who has already won over this trip and at this track.
- 6Ip Up50/100Smart performer who has run well here without winning, finishing placed on one of three visits.
- 7St Just In Time44/100Smart performer who arrives with solid recent form including a string of placed efforts.
The contenders
An Bradan Feasa KTB Fit 70/100
An Bradan Feasa arrives with a KTB Fit score of 70 and is the clear selection. A smart performer, he has shown his ability with placed efforts on his last two starts and drops back in trip today having won twice over this distance from eight attempts. He remains unproven on the current ground. Jack Jones has a 67% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a small sample with an A/E of 2.35 while the trainer and jockey combination shows 3/17 (18%) with an A/E of 1.18. Tom Bellamy has a 7% strike rate at the track from 203 rides with an A/E of 0.53 and this is his first ride here. The horse has no course form on record and steps up in class.
Machete Beach KTB Fit 60/100
Machete Beach is rated with a KTB Fit score of 60 and looks a major player. A smart performer, he arrives in excellent order after two wins from his last three starts and drops back to a trip he has already won over from just two attempts. The yard posts a solid 16% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 198 runs with an A/E of 0.99 while the trainer and jockey combination is 325/1430 (23%) with an A/E of 0.99. Gavin Sheehan has an 18% strike rate at the track from 325 rides with an A/E of 1.11. He remains unproven on this ground and makes his first visit to Uttoxeter.
Romany Brown KTB Fit 56/100
Romany Brown carries a KTB Fit score of 56. A smart performer, he has shown strong form at this trip, placing four times from six starts without yet winning. He makes his first appearance at Uttoxeter today with no prior course experience to call on. The trainer has an 8% strike rate at the track from 189 runs with an A/E of 0.81 and the trainer and jockey combination shows 2/48 (4%) with an A/E of 0.59. Ciaran Gethings has an 8% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 227 rides with an A/E of 0.67. The horse remains unproven on this ground.
King Ulanda KTB Fit 56/100
King Ulanda also has a KTB Fit score of 56 and cannot be dismissed. A smart performer, he has won twice at this trip and showed his best form when landing a handicap here in May before a solid run at Worcester last time. He has a fair record at Uttoxeter for the yard that operates at a 15% strike rate here from 151 runs with an A/E of 1.18 while the trainer and jockey combination is 2/15 (13%) with an A/E of 0.59. Jack Tudor has a 7% strike rate at the track from 133 rides with an A/E of 0.69. First-time headgear is now applied, he remains unproven on this ground and his latest efforts suggest he may now be near his ceiling. He has run once here, finishing fourth.
The rest of the field
Ask A SainteKTB Fit 56/100
Ask A Sainte has a KTB Fit score of 56. A smart performer, he has already won over this trip and at this track with recent form solid including a C&D success and another strong effort last time out though the drop back from 2m3f asks a fresh question. The trainer has a 22% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 381 runs with an A/E of 0.99 and the trainer and jockey combination is 339/1360 (25%) with an A/E of 0.97. Sean Bowen has a 21% strike rate at the track from 566 rides with an A/E of 1. He has won here from three runs.
Ip UpKTB Fit 50/100
Ip Up has a KTB Fit score of 50. A smart performer, he has run well here without winning, finishing placed on one of three visits, and drops back in trip today having scored at this distance before though he has been running over longer lately. First-time headgear is an unknown on ground he has never tried. The trainer has a 10% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 30 runs with an A/E of 0.68 and the trainer and jockey combination shows 9/23 (39%) with an A/E of 1.53. He has finished fourth, second and fifth on his three visits to the track.
St Just In TimeKTB Fit 44/100
St Just In Time has a KTB Fit score of 44. A smart performer, he arrives with solid recent form including a string of placed efforts and steps up in trip today having failed to land the odds at this distance on both previous attempts. First-time headgear is tried while he remains unproven on the ground. The yard has a 17% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 29 runs with an A/E of 0.62 and the trainer and jockey combination is 126/541 (23%) with an A/E of 0.98. He has no course form on record.
KTB verdict
An Bradan Feasa is the KTB Selection and sets a strong standard on his placed efforts in recent starts along with a proven record over this trip. His smart ability gives him every chance of taking this contest if he handles the ground and the step up in class. The main dangers are headed by Machete Beach who arrives in excellent order and has already won over the trip, while Romany Brown and King Ulanda, the latter now in first-time headgear, are likely to make their presence felt if the race falls their way.
KTB Selection An Bradan Feasa
This is the narrative read of the 3:48 Uttoxeter. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Uttoxeter racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is stepping up in class having won over C&D?
Ask A Sainte is stepping up in class having already won over this trip and at this track with a C&D success on his recent record.
Who is making their first visit to Uttoxeter?
Machete Beach, Romany Brown and An Bradan Feasa are all making their first visit to Uttoxeter with no course form on record.
Which runners are wearing first-time headgear?
King Ulanda, Ip Up and St Just In Time are all fitted with first-time headgear.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Uttoxeter?
Jack Jones has a 67% strike rate at Uttoxeter from three runs with an A/E of 2.35 while Olly Murphy has a 22% strike rate from 381 runs.
Which horse drops back in trip after racing over longer distances?
Ip Up drops back in trip today having been running over longer lately while Machete Beach also drops back to a trip he has won over.
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