3:00 Uttoxeter
This Class 4 handicap steeplechase at Uttoxeter, a qualifier for the ARC Summer Chase Series, brings together a compact but competitive field of five over 1m7f214y on good ground. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched between 60 and 50, reflecting a race where class, trip suitability and course knowledge will all matter. Dream Diamond heads the KTB rankings and is the selection, though Ice Jet and Bleu d'Enfer sit just behind and each hold strong claims on their best form.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated given the presence of two habitual front-runners in Dream Diamond and Supreme George. Both tend to make the running or race prominently, which sets up the possibility of the pace collapsing late in the race. That shape would play into the hands of the hold-up performers, with Ice Jet, Bleu d'Enfer and Jet of Dreams all waiting to pounce from off the speed. The key question is whether the early leaders can dictate matters or if the race will fall into the lap of the patient types.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Dream Diamond KTB Selection60/100
Dream Diamond is a smart performer who has been placed on all three starts at this trip and showed solid form when third here over two miles in May. Dropping back from two and a half miles looks a plus given the win at this distance earlier in his career, though he has only one win from eleven runs on good ground. The six-year-old is a front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace. Trainer James Owen has a 29% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 58 runs while Jonathan Burke brings an 18% strike rate at the track from 232 rides. The pair combine with a 16/68 (24%) record and A/E 1.07. He has course form having finished third here previously.
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2Ice Jet59/100
Ice Jet is a smart performer who has won three times this year and showed his class when runner-up in stronger company on his last completed start. The four-year-old is dropping in class and has been placed on his only previous run here. He drops back to a trip at which he has already been placed, though he is not prolific on good ground with one win from nine starts. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is well suited by the likely strong pace. Trainer Dan Skelton and jockey Harry Skelton both have a strong record at Uttoxeter, the yard operating at 23% and the rider at 29%.
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3Bleu d'Enfer58/100
Bleu d'Enfer is a high-class performer on his day with a solid career record that includes placed efforts at today's trip. The eight-year-old drops back from 2m5f having shown consistency in recent starts while the yard's 13% strike rate from 725 runs at Uttoxeter gives some encouragement. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be favoured by the anticipated strong pace. This is his first visit to the track and he has only one win from six on good ground, leaving a few questions to answer. Donald McCain teams up with Harry Brown who is yet to score from a single ride at the venue.
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4Jet of Dreams53/100
Jet of Dreams is a smart performer who has won at this trip and handles good ground well with four successes from 21 starts. He drops back in distance today after a fall last time and brings strong recent form including a win and a third this season. Usually held up, he should appreciate the strong pace. Trainer Warren Greatrex has a 16% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 167 runs.
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5Supreme George50/100
Supreme George is a smart performer with a solid recent record that includes two wins over today's trip. He drops back in distance after a recent run over further and has already shown he handles good ground with two wins from eleven starts. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he is likely to be involved early. This is his first visit to Uttoxeter and Donald McCain sends him out with a 13% strike rate at the track from 725 runs.
KTB verdict
Dream Diamond is the KTB Selection. He has been placed on all three starts at this trip, showed solid form when third here over two miles in May, and the drop back from two and a half miles looks ideal given his earlier win at the distance. James Owen's 29% strike rate at Uttoxeter adds further appeal. The main dangers are Ice Jet, who has won three times this year and showed class when runner-up in stronger company last time, and Bleu d'Enfer, who brings high-class form on his day and placed efforts at the trip.
KTB Selection Dream Diamond
This is the narrative read of the 3:00 Uttoxeter. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Uttoxeter racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Uttoxeter results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is best suited by the likely strong pace?
Ice Jet, Bleu d'Enfer and Jet of Dreams are all usually held up and should be favoured if the pace collapses late as indicated by the strong pace shape.
How many wins has Dream Diamond recorded on good ground?
Dream Diamond has one win from eleven runs on good ground.
What is the course record of the trainer with the highest strike rate at Uttoxeter in this race?
James Owen has a 29% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 58 runs.
Which runners have previous placed form at Uttoxeter?
Dream Diamond has finished third here, Ice Jet has been second here, while Bleu d'Enfer, Jet of Dreams and Supreme George have no course form on record.
How many front-runners are in the field?
There are two habitual front-runners: Dream Diamond and Supreme George.
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About the A/E figures in this preview. They are the data supplier’s: the winners a trainer or jockey had, divided by the winners the starting prices implied, over the runs in that record. Above 1.0 means more wins than the prices suggested. It is not KTB’s fair A/E, which allows for the bookmakers’ margin and the favourite–longshot bias, and the two are not comparable.
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