2:40 Uttoxeter
This Class 5 handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter over 1m7f168y on good ground features a field of ten where the KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top. The principals are headed by a pair rated 66, with the selection Jet Patrol and in-form Thickthorn Tom carrying equal top marks, while Ocean Heights, Belcamo and Four Decades complete the main cluster between 57 and 60. The overall KTB numbers point to a race where recent form, trip suitability and yard track record will be decisive, with first-time headgear a common thread among several runners.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay dividends. With no confirmed front-runner, the race is likely to be decided by positioning and timing rather than sustained speed. Several runners prefer to settle in midfield or be held up, which raises the key question of whether those who can track the pace or improve from just off it will hold the advantage in a race where the leaders may come under pressure from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Jet Patrol KTB Selection66/100Useful performer who arrives in reasonable form after a solid fourth last time.
- 2Thickthorn Tom66/100Useful performer who arrives in strong form having won three of his last four starts.
- 3Ocean Heights60/100Fair performer who has been consistent without winning lately, finishing third on both starts this season.
- 4Belcamo59/100Useful performer who showed his best form when winning over this trip at Worcester last spring.
- 5Four Decades57/100Useful performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts.
- 6Genbu54/100Fair performer who has run well here in the past, winning once from five visits.
- 7Cawthorne Banker52/100Useful performer who has won twice from three starts at Uttoxeter and also has three wins at today's trip.
- 8Mayday Games50/100Mayday Games is a useful performer on his day but has been disappointing on both previous visits to Uttoxeter.
- 9Castle Quarter45/100Castle Quarter is a fair handicapper who has won over this trip and at this track.
- 10Fond Farewell45/100Fond Farewell is a fair performer on his best days but has failed to win or place in eight runs on good ground and six starts at this trip.
The contenders
Jet Patrol KTB Fit 66/100
Jet Patrol arrives as a useful performer in reasonable form after a solid fourth last time out. He has won over today's trip and shown he handles good ground, though his record on it is otherwise modest with just one placed effort from nine runs. First-time headgear is an interesting addition for a yard that has a strong 30% strike rate at Uttoxeter. The trainer and jockey combination carries an overall 40/121 (33%) record with an A/E of 1.06, while James Owen's 30% strike rate at the track from 54 runs and Sean Bowen's 21% from 572 rides add further layers of encouragement. The nine-year-old has recent form figures of 61P6-4 and is the KTB Selection.
Thickthorn Tom KTB Fit 66/100
Thickthorn Tom is a useful performer who arrives in strong form having won three of his last four starts. He drops back in trip today having been running over further and has never won at this distance in three previous tries. First-time headgear is an unknown and his sole previous run here ended in a pulled-up effort. The Dan Skelton and Harry Skelton combination is formidable with a 1377/6260 (22%) record, and both have strong Uttoxeter figures, the trainer at 23% and the jockey at 28%. He has shown he goes well on good ground with two wins from four starts and four placed efforts, though his course record stands at one run: PU.
Ocean Heights KTB Fit 60/100
Ocean Heights is a fair performer who has been consistent without winning lately, finishing third on both starts this season. He drops back in trip today having been placed twice at this distance in the past, though the first-time headgear is an unknown. The yard maintains a solid 16% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a big sample of 545 runs. David Pipe and the 5lb claimer Rian Corcoran team up with a 21/76 (28%) record and an A/E of 1.43, while the jockey has struck at a 33% rate from nine rides at the track. His going record reads one win from ten on good with three placed efforts, and recent form is 3/6-33.
Belcamo KTB Fit 59/100
Belcamo is a useful performer who showed his best form when winning over this trip at Worcester last spring. He has run respectably on good ground but is now 0 from 10 since that win and his yard's modest 8% strike rate at Uttoxeter offers little encouragement. This is his first run here and the recent sixth suggests he needs to improve to be competitive. The Alex Hales and Kielan Woods partnership has an 74/692 (11%) record with an A/E of 0.80. His going figures read one win from 11 on good with four placed efforts, and recent form is 2601-6.
Four Decades KTB Fit 57/100
Four Decades is a useful performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He drops back in trip today having failed to make the frame in three previous tries at this distance. The trainer has a solid 21% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 19 runs. T Ellis and Jack Andrews combine with a 38/245 (16%) record and an A/E of 0.92. The five-year-old has no wins or places from two runs on good ground and recent form reads 78864-.
The rest of the field
GenbuKTB Fit 54/100
Genbu is a fair performer who has run well here in the past, winning once from five visits. He is consistent rather than progressive of late with placed efforts mixed in among defeats, and the yard's modest 3% strike-rate at Uttoxeter is a clear negative. He stays this trip and handles good ground with two wins from 12 starts and five placed efforts.
Cawthorne BankerKTB Fit 52/100
Cawthorne Banker is a useful performer who has won twice from three starts at Uttoxeter and also has three wins at today's trip. Recent form of 0P-521 shows a clear upturn last time and the yard's 10% strike rate at the track is solid enough. First-time headgear is now added to a horse that has won four times on good ground. He is usually held up and produces his effort late.
Mayday GamesKTB Fit 50/100
Mayday Games is a useful performer on his day but has been disappointing on both previous visits to Uttoxeter. He showed ability when winning on good ground last time yet drops back in trip today having failed to place in two runs at this distance. The trainer's modest 4% strike rate at the track adds further caution.
Castle QuarterKTB Fit 45/100
Castle Quarter is a fair handicapper who has won over this trip and at this track. He has been out of form for most of this year with a string of modest efforts and only one placing from his last nine starts. First-time headgear is now applied while the trainer maintains a solid 11% strike rate at Uttoxeter.
Fond FarewellKTB Fit 45/100
Fond Farewell is a fair performer on his best days but has failed to win or place in eight runs on good ground and six starts at this trip. He has been out of form recently with three non-completions in his last five outings and showed little at this track on both previous visits. First-time headgear is now fitted while the yard continue in solid form here.
KTB verdict
Jet Patrol looks to have the best blend of current form, trip suitability and yard track record in a race where the lack of an obvious leader makes positioning important. The nine-year-old showed enough in his latest fourth to suggest he remains competitive, and the first-time headgear combined with the 30% Uttoxeter strike rate of his trainer gives him strong claims as the KTB Selection. Thickthorn Tom is the obvious danger after three wins from his last four starts, though the drop in trip and his previous pulled-up effort here temper enthusiasm slightly. Ocean Heights brings consistent placed form and a respected trainer-jockey axis, while Cawthorne Banker cannot be dismissed given his fine course record and recent upturn.
KTB Selection Jet Patrol
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jet Patrol | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Thickthorn Tom | 15/8 | Bet365 |
| Ocean Heights | 10/1 | William Hill |
| Belcamo | 22/1 | William Hill |
| Four Decades | 17/2 | 7Bet |
| Genbu | 12/1 | 7Bet |
| Cawthorne Banker | 10/3 | 7Bet |
| Mayday Games | 11/2 | Bet365 |
| Castle Quarter | 20/1 | Bet365 |
| Fond Farewell | 28/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 2:40 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 dropping back in trip after winning three of its last four starts?
Thickthorn Tom, who has never won at this distance in three previous tries.
What is the course record of the horse with two wins from three starts at Uttoxeter?
Cawthorne Banker has won twice from three starts at Uttoxeter and has three wins at today's trip.
Which runner is wearing first-time headgear for a yard with a 30% strike rate at Uttoxeter?
Jet Patrol, who has a 30% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 54 runs for James Owen.
How many wins has Genbu recorded at this track from five visits?
Genbu has won once from five visits to Uttoxeter.
Which contender has been out of form with only one placing from its last nine starts?
Castle Quarter, who is a fair handicapper that has won over this trip and at this track.
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