4:20 Uttoxeter
This Class 5 handicap steeplechase over 1m7f214y at Uttoxeter on good ground brings together a field of ten where the KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top. The principals are led by two horses both on 66, with several others closely behind showing useful ability and recent placed form. The KTB numbers highlight strong trainer and course connections for the leading contenders while underlining that this looks a steadily-run, tactical race in which late closers could be advantaged.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader and points to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. With the majority of the field, including all five principals, tending to be held up and produce their efforts late, the race is likely to develop into a test of timing from off the pace. The key question will be whether any horse can get into a rhythm early enough to take advantage of the steady gallop or if the closers will sweep by in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Holy Legend66/100
Holy Legend arrives with strong recent form, recording three wins from his last five starts and showing he is in good heart this year. The 7-year-old has placed on two of his last three visits to Uttoxeter without winning and is proven on good ground with three wins from ten starts. Alexandra Dunn holds a 12% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.37 from 58 runs while James Best has a 7% strike rate here with an A/E of 0.84 from 245 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be looking to come from off the pace in what is expected to be a steadily-run contest. Dropping back in trip raises a fresh question for this useful performer.
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2Ask A Sainte KTB Selection66/100
Ask A Sainte is a smart performer who has won at this track and at today's trip, making the drop back from 2m3f look a sensible move after a mixed bag of recent results that included a pulled-up effort last time. The 6-year-old boasts a course record of one win from four starts and has shown he can handle good ground with one win and three places from seven runs. Olly Murphy brings a 21% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 0.96 from 393 runs while Sean Bowen has a 20% strike rate here with an A/E of 0.97 from 583 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is dropping in class and looks well placed to capitalise on these positives in a tactical affair.
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3Playful Fox62/100
Playful Fox is a useful performer who has already shown strong form at this trip with two placed efforts from five attempts. The 4-year-old drops back from 2m today having mixed results on good ground, where he has been placed twice from six starts without winning, and he was unplaced over hurdles here last time. Dan Skelton holds a 23% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 1 from 638 runs while Harry Skelton has a 29% strike rate here with an A/E of 1.09 from 500 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is dropping in class and will be looking to time his run in a steadily-run race.
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4Inedit d'Amour60/100
Inedit d'Amour is a smart performer who has already won at this trip and shown he handles good ground with one win and one place from two starts. The 5-year-old has no course form on record but the yard connections are strong, with Donald McCain holding a 13% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 0.85 from 728 runs. Theo Gillard has a 9% strike rate here with an A/E of 0.82 from 104 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, recent form has been mixed but the underlying ability still looks up to winning at this level while dropping in class.
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5Ghasham56/100
Ghasham is a useful performer who has run well at this track without winning, finishing second on his latest visit to Uttoxeter. The 7-year-old drops back in trip today having won at this distance before, though his record on good ground is modest with just one success from 14 starts. Sam England has an 8% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.76 from 92 runs while Jonathan England has an 8% strike rate here with an A/E of 0.77 from 124 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be looking to build on his placed course form in what is expected to be a tactical contest.
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6Bertie B55/100
Bertie B is a useful performer who has shown bits and pieces around here, finishing second on his latest visit to Uttoxeter. He has a win on good ground but his record at this trip is modest and recent form is patchy while the trainer's modest strike-rate at the track adds little confidence.
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7Dexter54/100
Dexter is a useful performer who has been consistent of late with three placed efforts in his last five starts. He has solid course form here with two seconds from three runs and the trainer holds a respectable 14% strike rate at Uttoxeter, though dropping back in trip raises a question as he has only placed without winning at this distance from six attempts and his record on good ground is modest with one win from 18 starts.
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8Reteti54/100
Reteti is a smart performer who arrives in solid nick with three seconds and a win from his last five starts. He drops back to a trip where he has placed without winning while connections have a modest 4% strike-rate here from 28 runners and he has been placed twice from five runs on good ground.
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9Prospect House48/100
Prospect House is a fair handicapper who has been consistent without winning for some time, placing in three of his last four starts. He drops back to a trip he has won at before, which looks a positive, and he acts on good ground with a solid three wins from 21 runs, though the yard has a modest 3% strike rate from 60 runs at Uttoxeter and this is his first run here.
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10Tropical Talent44/100
Tropical Talent is a fair handicapper who has been knocking at the door this season with three seconds from his last four starts. He has shown he can handle this trip though he is dropping back from 2m today, while his record on good ground reads just one win from 18 starts. The yard have a solid 14% strike-rate at Uttoxeter from a big sample but this one was well held on his only previous run here.
KTB verdict
Ask A Sainte stands out as the KTB Selection. A smart performer who has won at this track and at today's trip, the drop back from 2m3f looks a sensible move after a mixed bag of recent results that included a pulled-up effort last time. Olly Murphy's 21% strike-rate at Uttoxeter and Sean Bowen's record here both add further positives for a horse that is dropping in class. His main dangers are headed by Holy Legend, who has been in good heart with three wins from his last five starts and is proven on good ground, along with Playful Fox who has shown strong form at this trip. Inedit d'Amour and Ghasham also bring useful ability and course form that cannot be dismissed.
KTB Selection Ask A Sainte
This is the narrative read of the 4:20 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 has won both at Uttoxeter and at today's trip?
Ask A Sainte
How many wins has Holy Legend recorded from his last five starts?
Three
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Uttoxeter among those represented in the top five?
Dan Skelton with 23%
What is the course record of the KTB Selection at Uttoxeter?
One win from four starts
Which runner has finished second on its latest visit to Uttoxeter?
Ghasham
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