2:36 Uttoxeter
This Class 4 maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter, run over 1m7f168y on good ground, forms the second division of the F Ball 140th Anniversary contest and carries GBB Race status. A field of ten includes several lightly raced types with hurdling experience limited to just a handful of starts each, and the KTB Fit ratings point to a clear top horse on figures while underlining that many others bring very modest form or small samples. Larzac stands out on official rating and the KTB numbers overall, though the yard and jockey combination at this venue adds nuance.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is genuinely run with high confidence, featuring a front-runner likely to be pressed by several handy types. Tazman Dan is the one who tends to make the running or race on the pace, while Wannabe Sporty and Akrramm are prominent racers who should be on or close to the lead. This sets up a fair test in which the key question will be whether the prominent and mid-division runners can sustain their effort or if the held-up types, including the selection, can time their late challenges effectively once the gallop takes its toll.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Larzac KTB Selection64/100
Larzac is a high-class performer on the figures with an official rating of 124 and arrives as the KTB Selection with a Fit score of 64. Recent form of 6/840- suggests a lacklustre return last season, yet he remains relatively unexposed having had only one previous run at today's trip and being lightly raced overall. The drop back from 2m is expected to suit. Trainer Faye Bramley holds an 18% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 1.61 from 17 runs, though this is offset by jockey Harry Cobden's 14% strike rate from a much bigger sample of 123 rides and an A/E of 0.76. He is usually held up and produces his effort late, with medium confidence in that assessment. There is no course form on record and he is unproven on good ground.
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2Current Edition56/100
Current Edition is lightly raced with just three runs and a recent form line of F/532- that shows ability but also inconsistency. He has placed once at today's trip without winning and the small sample makes it hard to be definitive about his level, yet he remains competitive on good ground from one run. The KTB Fit score stands at 56. Trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies have a strong 27% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 1.38 from 15 runs, while jockey Sam Twiston-Davies posts an 18% strike rate from 540 rides here and an A/E of 0.95. No course form exists and the overall trainer-jockey record is 41/242 at 17% with an A/E of 0.78.
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3Sytadel52/100
Sytadel showed promise when second on debut over this trip, with the KTB Fit score at 52. Only one run on the board means the form has to be treated cautiously, though he has placed once on good ground without winning. The yard has a strong 23% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a large sample of 638 runs with an A/E of 1, while Harry Skelton is even better on 29% from 500 rides here and an A/E of 1.09. He is usually held up and produces his effort late, though that assessment comes with limited evidence and low confidence. The trainer-jockey record stands at 1402/6344 at 22% with an A/E of 0.90 and no course form on record.
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4Pedro's Moon51/100
Pedro's Moon showed little on his sole start to date when finishing eighth, bringing a small sample and low data confidence so has to be treated with caution. The KTB Fit score is 51 and he is stepping up in class as a lightly raced 4-year-old. Olly Murphy holds a 21% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 0.96 from 393 runs, while jockey Sean Bowen posts a 20% strike rate from 583 rides here and an A/E of 0.97. He typically settles in midfield with limited evidence and low confidence in that run-style. There is one run on good without a win or place and no course form on record.
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5Midnight Lexi49/100
Midnight Lexi placed third on debut over this trip at Worcester, showing some promise in a modest race, and the KTB Fit score is 49. Very lightly raced with only one run to go on, this remains early days and he is stepping up in class. The yard have a solid 23% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a big sample of 638 runs with an A/E of 1. He is usually held up and produces his effort late with limited evidence and low confidence. Placed once on good without a win, there is no course form on record and the specific trainer-jockey record is 1/36 at 3% with an A/E of 0.40.
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6Wannabe Sporty44/100
Wannabe Sporty showed little on her sole start when finishing seventh and the KTB Fit score is 44. The yard has a solid 12% strike rate from 290 runs at Uttoxeter while James Best is operating at 7% from 245 rides here. With only one run on the clock, a small sample at the trip and stepping up in class, this remains very much unknown territory. Usually races handily with low confidence and one run on good without a win or place.
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7Akrramm43/100
Akrramm has only five career runs and showed little when pulled up on his most recent start over much further, with the KTB Fit score at 43. He now drops back in trip to a distance he has never tried, which asks a fresh question of him. The yard has a solid 19% strike-rate at Uttoxeter while James Bowen is 13% from 200 rides here. Usually races handily with medium confidence and one run on good without a win or place.
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8Kind of Kiss42/100
Kind of Kiss has only modest recent form of 5 and is stepping up markedly in trip today for the first time, which asks a fresh question of her stamina, with the KTB Fit score at 42. She has never won or placed on good ground from four attempts and the yard and jockey both hold an 8% strike rate at Uttoxeter. Usually held up with high confidence and medium data confidence, she remains not fully exposed.
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9Tazman Dan42/100
Tazman Dan has shown ordinary form in four starts with figures of 657-4 and was well held when fourth on handicap debut last time, carrying a KTB Fit score of 42. He now drops back in trip with first-time headgear and faces a stiff task at this level on the balance of what he has achieved. Trainer and jockey both have below-average records at Uttoxeter. Tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence.
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10Sangara37/100
Sangara has shown only modest form overall with a single recent third to her name from 13 runs and the KTB Fit score is 37. The yard has a 4% strike rate here from 28 runs while the jockey is even quieter on 2% from 49 rides at Uttoxeter. She has failed to place in five runs on good ground and is unproven at this trip. Usually held up with high confidence.
KTB verdict
Larzac is the KTB Selection. He is a high-class performer on the figures with strong recent connections to this track, and the drop back from 2m should suit after a lacklustre return last season. Lightly raced overall and with only one previous run at today's trip, he remains relatively unexposed despite being unproven on the ground. The yard's solid 18% strike-rate here is offset by the jockey's more modest 14% from a much bigger sample. Main dangers are Current Edition, who has shown ability on his light career, and Sytadel, who displayed promise on debut for a yard and jockey in excellent form at the track.
KTB Selection Larzac
This is the narrative read of the 2:36 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
Why is Larzac the selection despite being unproven on good ground?
Larzac is a high-class performer on the figures with strong recent connections to this track. The drop back from 2m should suit after a lacklustre return last season, though the yard's solid 18% strike-rate here is offset by the jockey's more modest 14% from a much bigger sample. Lightly raced overall and with only one previous run at today's trip, he remains relatively unexposed.
How does the pace shape influence the race?
The pace shape is genuinely run with high confidence, featuring a front-runner likely to be pressed by several handy types. This sets up a fair test in which the key question will be whether the prominent and mid-division runners can sustain their effort or if the held-up types can time their late challenges effectively once the gallop takes its toll.
What makes Sytadel an interesting contender?
Sytadel showed promise when second on debut over this trip. The yard has a strong 23% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a big sample while Harry Skelton is even better on 29% from 500 rides here. With only one run on the board the form has to be treated cautiously.
Why is Tazman Dan wearing first-time headgear?
Tazman Dan has shown ordinary form in four starts and was well held when fourth on handicap debut last time. He now drops back in trip with first-time headgear and faces a stiff task at this level on the balance of what he has achieved.
Which runners are held up in running?
Larzac is usually held up and produces its effort late. Sytadel, Midnight Lexi, Kind of Kiss and Sangara are also held-up types, though some with limited evidence.
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