2:10 Uttoxeter
This Class 5 handicap hurdle division at Uttoxeter over 1m7f168y on good ground brings together an eleven-runner field where the KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top. The principals are headed by Versatile on 64, followed closely by Alshadhian on 62, with the remainder ranging from 57 down to 37. Overall the KTB numbers point to a competitive race in which recent consistency, course records and trainer form at the venue will play a significant part.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is unclear with low confidence, as there is not enough run-style evidence across the field to form a firm view. Iolaos du Mou is the only horse noted as tending to make the running or race prominently, while Littletown Lad is usually held up. The race is therefore likely to unfold with few established front-runners, which could place a premium on tactical speed and the ability to race handily without a strong pace to aim at.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Versatile KTB Selection64/100Versatile is a useful performer who has been consistent this year with a string of placed efforts from his last four starts.
- 2Alshadhian62/100Alshadhian is a useful performer on his best days and arrives in reasonable form after two placed efforts this season.
- 3Auntie Maggie57/100Auntie Maggie is a useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track.
- 4Ashdown Forest56/100Ashdown Forest is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history but has been below form in recent starts.
- 5American Empire54/100Useful performer who arrives in solid form with two placed efforts from his last three starts.
- 6Captain Connor53/100Fair performer who has shown some ability on his better days but has been inconsistent and failed to complete on his final start last season.
- 7Chicago Storm52/100Useful performer who has placed on good ground and at today's trip without winning.
- 8Harry Gulliver50/100Harry Gulliver is a fair performer on his day with a solid recent win at this level before a lengthy break.
- 9Iolaos du Mou48/100Useful performer who has placed here without winning and has won over today's trip.
- 10Colinski48/100Useful performer who has shown enough in recent runs to remain competitive at this level.
- 11Littletown Lad37/100Littletown Lad is a fair performer who has failed to place in nine starts and looks to have his work cut out again.
The contenders
Versatile KTB Fit 64/100
Versatile is a useful performer who has been consistent this year with a string of placed efforts from his last four starts. He handles good ground and has shown he can be competitive at this trip, though he is still without a win at either. The yard has a strong 30% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 1.22 from 54 runs, while jockey Alex Chadwick has a 23% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.02 from 13 rides. Dropping in class looks a positive, and the recent form figures of 3-434 underline his reliability. With the trainer and jockey both showing healthy records here, he arrives with every chance in a race where his proven competitiveness stands out.
Alshadhian KTB Fit 62/100
Alshadhian is a useful performer on his best days and arrives in reasonable form after two placed efforts this season. He has won over today's trip but his record on good ground is modest with one win from ten starts and four places, and he has never placed in two runs at Uttoxeter. First-time headgear is now applied in a bid to sharpen him up. The trainer holds a 15% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.21 from 153 runs, though the jockey is on 7% with an A/E of 0.74 from 136 rides. Recent form of 223-34 keeps him in the conversation, but the course record and ground question remain.
Auntie Maggie KTB Fit 57/100
Auntie Maggie is a useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track with one win from four starts here. She has been in decent form this year with two placed efforts from her last four starts yet was pulled up last time out. The trainer holds a solid 13% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 1.02 from 157 runs, while the jockey is on 8% with an A/E of 0.67 from 229 rides. Her record on good ground reads two wins from fourteen starts with five places. The course success and trip suitability give her a clear chance if she bounces back from that latest effort.
Ashdown Forest KTB Fit 56/100
Ashdown Forest is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history but has been below form in recent starts with form figures of 6776-. The step up in trip poses a fresh question having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at this distance. Trainer Dan Skelton has a solid 23% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 0.99 from 624 runs, and jockey Harry Skelton has a 28% strike rate here with an A/E of 1.09 from 488 rides. He has only one run on good ground without placing. The yard and jockey combination commands respect, but recent form and the trip raise doubts.
American Empire KTB Fit 54/100
American Empire is a useful performer who arrives in solid form with two placed efforts from his last three starts and recent figures of 243-33. He has a good record on this ground with one win from five starts and three places, and has been placed three times at today's trip. Dropping in class is a plus and first-time headgear is now applied. Trainer Donald McCain has a solid 13% strike rate at Uttoxeter with an A/E of 0.85 from 720 runs, while Theo Gillard is yet to trouble the judge from only a handful of rides here. His consistency on good ground makes him a solid each-way prospect.
The rest of the field
Captain ConnorKTB Fit 53/100
Captain Connor is a fair performer who has shown some ability on his better days but has been inconsistent and failed to complete on his final start last season. He drops back in trip today having been placed once at this distance without winning. The trainer has a solid 15% strike rate from 80 runs at Uttoxeter.
Chicago StormKTB Fit 52/100
Chicago Storm is a useful performer who has placed on good ground and at today's trip without winning. Recent form of 5F03-P suggests he is not the force of old and the first run at Uttoxeter adds an unknown. The trainer has a 6% strike-rate from 50 rides at the track while the jockey is 0-9 here.
Harry GulliverKTB Fit 50/100
Harry Gulliver is a fair performer on his day with a solid recent win at this level before a lengthy break. He drops back in trip having failed to land a blow in three previous tries at this distance and makes his first start at Uttoxeter. The yard has an 8% strike rate here from a large sample.
Iolaos du MouKTB Fit 48/100
Iolaos du Mou is a useful performer who has placed here without winning and has won over today's trip. Recent form has been patchy with two sixths on his last two starts and he now tries first-time headgear. The trainer's small sample at the track makes this hard to gauge with confidence.
ColinskiKTB Fit 48/100
Colinski is a useful performer who has shown enough in recent runs to remain competitive at this level. He has only a modest course record here with a fifth on his sole visit and the trainer's 7% strike rate from 75 runs at Uttoxeter offers little encouragement. First-time headgear is now tried on ground he has handled okay with one win and two places from eight starts.
Littletown LadKTB Fit 37/100
Littletown Lad is a fair performer who has failed to place in nine starts and looks to have his work cut out again. He unseated here on his only previous visit to Uttoxeter and has shown nothing on good ground in four runs. First-time headgear is now tried but the yard's modest 8% strike rate at the track offers little encouragement.
KTB verdict
Versatile stands out as the KTB Selection. He has been a model of consistency with placed efforts in his last four starts, handles the ground, and represents a yard in excellent form at Uttoxeter with a 30% strike rate. The drop in class further strengthens his claims in a race where his ability to be competitive at this trip is a clear asset. The main dangers are headed by Alshadhian, who brings first-time headgear and placed form, and Auntie Maggie, who has already won over course and distance and can bounce back from her latest pulled-up effort. Ashdown Forest and American Empire cannot be ruled out either given the strength of their respective yards at this venue.
KTB Selection Versatile
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 24 Jul. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Versatile | 13/2 | CopyBet |
| Alshadhian | 11/2 | Bet365 |
| Auntie Maggie | 6/1 | 7Bet |
| Ashdown Forest | 13/8 | Bet365 |
| American Empire | 11/1 | CopyBet |
| Captain Connor | 33/1 | Bet365 |
| Chicago Storm | 16/1 | 7Bet |
| Harry Gulliver | 20/1 | 7Bet |
| Iolaos du Mou | 18/1 | Bet365 |
| Colinski | 20/1 | Bet365 |
| Littletown Lad | 10/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 2:10 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 course-and-distance winning form?
Auntie Maggie has won here and over this trip.
Which runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Alshadhian, American Empire, Iolaos du Mou, Colinski and Littletown Lad are all wearing first-time headgear.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Uttoxeter in this race?
James Owen has a 30% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 54 runs.
Who is the only confirmed front-runner in the field?
Iolaos du Mou tends to make the running or race on the pace.
Which horse is dropping in class and has been placed three times at today's trip?
American Empire is dropping in class and has been placed three times at today's trip.
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