3:12 Uttoxeter
This Class 4 handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter over 1m7f168y on good ground features a field of eight where the KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top. Ice Jet heads the ratings on 66 with three recent wins to his name, while Bright Legend (64), King Sacre (62) and Drombeg Lad (59) are all considered smart performers in current form. With the pace shape rated unclear due to limited run-style evidence across the field, the race lacks a clear blueprint and several runners sport first-time headgear.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is unclear with low confidence, as there is not enough run-style data to form a firm view on how the race will unfold. Ice Jet and Romany Brown are both usually held up and tend to produce their effort late, though the evidence for both is limited. This leaves open the possibility of a steadily-run affair or an uncontested lead, with the key question being which horse can best time its run or seize an uncontested advantage in a race where the shape is difficult to read with any certainty.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Ice Jet KTB Selection66/100Smart performer who has won three times this year and ran a solid second over this course and distance when last seen on the Flat.
- 2Bright Legend64/100Smart performer who has shown consistent form this year and arrives here off the back of a win at the end of last season.
- 3King Sacre62/100Smart performer who showed his best when winning at this trip on return last month.
- 4Drombeg Lad59/100Smart performer who arrives in solid form after a recent win and has already shown his liking for this track when finishing second here.
- 5War Correspondent55/100Smart performer who has shown useful form on several occasions but arrives in modest heart after a string of unplaced efforts.
- 6Romany Brown52/100Smart performer who showed his best when winning here over hurdles last season before a stiff task in a stronger race on his latest start.
- 7Diesel Line50/100Useful performer who has won twice at this track from five runs and also has a solid record on good ground.
- 8Emerald Time48/100Useful performer who showed his best this year when winning a handicap over today's trip on good ground.
The contenders
Ice Jet KTB Fit 66/100
Ice Jet is a smart performer who has won three times already this year and ran a solid second over this course and distance when last seen on the Flat. He drops back from 2m4f and tries first-time headgear, both logical moves after a recent voided run. The Dan Skelton yard strikes at 23% at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 1 from 628 runs while Harry Skelton boasts a 29% strike rate here with an A/E of 1.1 from 492 rides. He has one win from nine on good ground with three placed efforts and has been placed once from one run at the course. Usually held up and producing his effort late, though the evidence is limited.
Bright Legend KTB Fit 64/100
Bright Legend is a smart performer who has shown consistent form this year and arrives off the back of a win at the end of last season. He drops back in trip having been placed three times from four starts at this distance though he has never run at Uttoxeter before. The Faye Bramley stable holds a 23% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 2.03 from 13 runs, while Jonjo O'Neill Jr. is on board with an 11% strike rate here and an A/E of 0.6 from 172 rides. He has one win from six on good ground with two placed efforts and first-time headgear is now applied.
King Sacre KTB Fit 62/100
King Sacre is a smart performer who showed his best when winning at this trip on return last month. He ran poorly at Worcester since but had a valid excuse and should bounce back. Nigel Hawke has an 11% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 0.99 from 209 runs and the trainer-jockey combination shows 8/81 (10%) with an A/E of 1.26. James Davies has an 8% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.05 from 331 rides. He has been placed once from three runs on good ground with no course form on record.
Drombeg Lad KTB Fit 59/100
Drombeg Lad is a smart performer who arrives in solid form after a recent win and has already shown his liking for this track when finishing second here. He has won on good ground and at today's trip, so the conditions look suitable enough. Alex Hales has a modest 8% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 0.76 from 194 runs and the trainer-jockey partnership reads 74/693 (11%) with an A/E of 0.80. Kielan Woods has a 12% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.01 from 229 rides. He has one win from six on good with four placed efforts and has been placed once from one run at the course.
The rest of the field
War CorrespondentKTB Fit 55/100
War Correspondent is a smart performer who has shown useful form on several occasions but arrives in modest heart after a string of unplaced efforts. He drops back in trip having won at this distance in the past and first-time headgear is now applied. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from 14 runs at Uttoxeter.
Romany BrownKTB Fit 52/100
Romany Brown is a smart performer who showed his best when winning here over hurdles last season before a stiff task in a stronger race on his latest start. Only one visit to Uttoxeter yielded a respectable fourth and he has placed four times from seven starts at today's trip. The trainer operates at an 8% strike rate here from a large sample while the jockey also has solid course form. Usually held up and produces his effort late, though the evidence is limited.
Diesel LineKTB Fit 50/100
Diesel Line is a useful performer who has won twice at this track from five runs and also has a solid record on good ground. He drops back in trip today having last run over further and now tries first-time headgear. The trainer has a respectable 14% strike rate at Uttoxeter while Sean Bowen also rides. He has won here twice from five runs.
Emerald TimeKTB Fit 48/100
Emerald Time is a useful performer who showed his best this year when winning a handicap over today's trip on good ground. He has run creditably since and now tries first-time headgear after a slight drop back in distance while dropping in class. The trainer has only one run at Uttoxeter so far which is too small a sample to judge.
KTB verdict
Ice Jet looks to hold the best chance in a race where several smart performers line up with relatively little between them on ratings. He has won three times this year, ran a solid second over this course and distance on the Flat last time, and the drop back from 2m4f plus first-time headgear both appear logical. The Skelton team know the track well with strong strike rates for both trainer and jockey. Bright Legend, King Sacre and Drombeg Lad are the main dangers, all in solid form and with suitable conditions, though the unclear pace makes it tricky to be certain how the race will unfold.
KTB Selection Ice Jet
This is the narrative read of the 3:12 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 has the highest KTB Fit Score and is the selection?
Ice Jet with a KTB Fit Score of 66/100 is the selection.
How many horses in the field are wearing first-time headgear?
Five horses are wearing first-time headgear: Ice Jet, Bright Legend, War Correspondent, Diesel Line and Emerald Time.
Which horse has won twice at Uttoxeter from five runs?
Diesel Line has won twice at this track from five runs.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Uttoxeter for the yard of the selection?
Dan Skelton has a 23% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 1 from 628 runs.
Which two horses are described as usually held up?
Ice Jet and Romany Brown are both usually held up and produce their effort late.
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