3:42 Uttoxeter
This Class 2 handicap steeplechase over 3m0f10y at Uttoxeter on good ground brings together a competitive field of nine, most of whom are stepping up in class. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with four principals rated between 69 and 73, underlining the depth on show. Sunray Shadow heads the KTB rankings and is the selection, though the tentative pace shape adds an element of uncertainty to how the race will unfold.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as tentative with medium confidence, based on thin evidence of a possible front-runner. Sony Bill is the only horse with a noted tendency to make the running or race prominently, though that assessment carries low confidence from limited evidence. Most of the principals, including Sunray Shadow, Grand Clermont and Hold Your Fort, are held-up types who produce their effort late. The key question is whether a genuine pace materialises or whether the race becomes a test of positioning and finishing speed in a steadily-run affair.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Sunray Shadow KTB Selection73/100High-class performer who arrives in top form after three wins from his last five starts and has already won over this trip on his only attempt.
- 2Grand Clermont71/100High-class performer who has won twice at this trip and looks well suited by the track having scored here from three runs.
- 3Bagheera Ginge70/100High-class performer with a strong recent record including two wins from his last three starts.
- 4Sure Touch69/100Sure Touch is a high-class performer with a solid career record and strong course connections.
- 5Sony Bill68/100Sony Bill is a high-class performer on his best days and arrives in solid recent form with three consecutive placed efforts.
- 6Imperial Alex66/100High-class performer with a solid record here, including two wins from six runs at Uttoxeter.
- 7The Flying Poet58/100Smart performer who has won three of his last four starts at this trip and looks well treated on that form.
- 8Hold Your Fort57/100High-class performer with strong recent ratings and a solid career record who has won twice over today's trip.
- 9Stans The Man50/100Stans The Man is a high-class performer on his day with a solid record of five wins on good ground.
The contenders
Sunray Shadow KTB Fit 73/100
Sunray Shadow is a high-class performer who arrives in top form after three wins from his last five starts and has already won over this trip on his only attempt. He also has a solid record on good ground and has won here from three runs at Uttoxeter. First-time headgear is now added. The 7-year-old is held up, usually producing his effort late, and that run-style looks well suited to the tentative pace shape. Dan Skelton and Harry Skelton team up with a 22% strike rate together, while both have strong records at this track. Stepping up in class is the only slight concern but the recent form figures of -11131 paint a clear picture of a horse in his prime.
Grand Clermont KTB Fit 71/100
Grand Clermont is a high-class performer who has won twice at this trip and looks well suited by the track having scored here from three runs. Recent form of 61241 shows strong consistency at this level and the good ground brings two wins and three places from five attempts. First-time headgear is the only unknown but the yard's 16% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a big sample adds solid support. The 10-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late, though that read comes with low confidence from limited evidence. David Pipe and the 5lb claimer Rian Corcoran have a positive 27% strike rate when teaming up, and the step up in class is taken in his stride given his proven ability at this level.
Bagheera Ginge KTB Fit 70/100
Bagheera Ginge is a high-class performer with a strong recent record including two wins from his last three starts. He has placed on both previous completed runs at this track and the yard has a solid 31% strike rate here. First-time headgear is now tried as he steps up in trip for the first time. The 8-year-old has three wins from 22 starts on good ground with a further nine placed efforts, so the surface is no issue. Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies team up with Sam Twiston-Davies, who between them have a 16% strike rate, and the placed course form suggests he handles the venue. His recent form figures of 1P-151 underline his competitiveness at this level.
Sure Touch KTB Fit 69/100
Sure Touch is a high-class performer with a solid career record and strong course connections. He won on his only previous visit to Uttoxeter and has a good record on good ground with six wins from 14 starts. The step up to 3m today asks a fresh question having last run over 2m4f though he has placed once at this trip. The 10-year-old is trained by Olly Murphy, whose yard has a 21% strike rate at the track. Tom Hutsby takes the ride with a 10lb claim, and although the trainer-jockey combination shows an 8% strike rate the horse's Uttoxeter record and going affinity remain significant positives. Recent form of /051-3 suggests he remains capable at this level.
The rest of the field
Sony BillKTB Fit 68/100
Sony Bill is a high-class performer on his best days and arrives in solid recent form with three consecutive placed efforts. He has been placed both starts at Uttoxeter without winning and holds no wins or places from three runs on good ground. The trip is still largely unproven after just one attempt. The 5-year-old is the only confirmed front-runner in a tentative pace shape, though that read has low confidence from limited evidence. Faye Bramley and Harry Cobden combine with a 32% strike rate.
Imperial AlexKTB Fit 66/100
Imperial Alex is a high-class performer with a solid record here, including two wins from six runs at Uttoxeter. Has won four times at this trip from 11 attempts and shows three wins plus five places from eight runs on good ground. First-time headgear is the main unknown. The 9-year-old has recent form figures of 75-211 and is trained by Tom Lacey, whose yard has a 17% strike rate at the track.
The Flying PoetKTB Fit 58/100
The Flying Poet is a smart performer who has won three of his last four starts at this trip and looks well treated on that form. He has solid figures on good ground and the yard's healthy 21% strike rate at Uttoxeter adds confidence. First-time headgear is the main unknown on his debut here. The 7-year-old is trained by Olly Murphy and ridden by Sean Bowen, who combine with a 25% strike rate.
Hold Your FortKTB Fit 57/100
Hold Your Fort is a high-class performer with strong recent ratings and a solid career record who has won twice over today's trip. He has form on good ground and the trainer's respectable record here adds some confidence, yet his two previous runs at Uttoxeter produced no win or place. Stepping back up in trip today asks a fresh question after his last run over shorter. The 10-year-old has recent form figures of 12-395 and is held up with low-confidence evidence.
Stans The ManKTB Fit 50/100
Stans The Man is a high-class performer on his day with a solid record of five wins on good ground. He steps up in trip today having won over this distance before, though his latest efforts have been ordinary and he now tries first-time headgear. The yard has a 0% strike rate from 17 runs at Uttoxeter and the horse himself has failed to place in four previous visits here. The 9-year-old is held up according to the limited evidence available.
KTB verdict
Sunray Shadow is the KTB Selection. A high-class performer in top form with three wins from his last five starts, a previous success over this trip, a good record on good ground and a win at this track from three attempts, he looks to hold all the aces. First-time headgear is added to a horse who is usually held up and can produce his effort late in what is likely to be a steadily-run race. The main dangers are headed by Grand Clermont, whose course win, strong recent consistency and good-ground record make him a serious threat, while Bagheera Ginge and Sure Touch also have strong claims on their respective course and distance profiles.
KTB Selection Sunray Shadow
This is the narrative read of the 3:42 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 trip for the first time?
Bagheera Ginge is stepping up in trip for the first time.
Who is the only horse with a front-running run style?
Sony Bill is the only horse noted as tending to make the running or race on the pace.
How many wins has Sunray Shadow recorded on good ground?
Sunray Shadow has 5 wins from 7 starts on good ground.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Uttoxeter among those represented?
Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies have a 31% strike rate at Uttoxeter.
Which horse has the strongest course record at Uttoxeter?
Imperial Alex has won 2 from 6 starts at Uttoxeter.
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