3:15 Uttoxeter
The 3:15 at Uttoxeter is a Class 5 handicap steeplechase over 3m0f10y on good ground, forming part of the ARC Summer Chase Series qualifier. A field of 14 lines up, with the majority wearing first-time headgear in what looks an open and competitive race. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Slaney Opera on 66, with four others within four points, suggesting a race where recent form, trip suitability and the new headgear will all play significant parts.
How the race shapes up
With a field this size and several prominent runners likely to take their chance early, the pace shape is expected to be on the strong side. Slaney Opera, Normofthenorth and Jongleur d'Etoiles have all shown a preference for racing prominently or up with the pace, while several others including Betty's Tiara and Kenzo Des Bruyeres are versatile. The key question will be whether the strong pace collapses late or if the prominent types can sustain their effort up the hill, particularly with so many trying headgear and stepping up or down in trip.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Slaney Opera KTB Selection66/100Useful performer who arrives in decent form with a solid second last time out.
- 2Normofthenorth63/100Normofthenorth is a useful performer who showed fair form when winning at this trip on his only previous attempt.
- 3Betty's Tiara62/100Useful mare who won on her only previous visit to Uttoxeter and has placed form on good ground.
- 4Kenzo Des Bruyeres62/100Kenzo Des Bruyeres is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and race history.
- 5Jullou De Grissay59/100Useful performer who has shown steady placed form this year without winning.
- 6Jongleur d'Etoiles53/100Useful performer who arrives in reasonable form and has won twice over today's trip from only four attempts.
- 7Collingham50/100Useful performer on his day with a solid record on good ground that includes six wins.
- 8Jo Arengeot Bey AA50/100Fair performer who won over this trip here last year and has a solid 1-3 course record.
- 9Queens Wish48/100Queens Wish is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, winning once from six attempts.
- 10Jack's A Legend45/100Useful performer who has shown some ability on his recent starts but has failed to win or place in five runs on good ground and pulled up on his only visit to t…
- 11Izzy's Grey45/100Izzy's Grey is a fair handicapper who has been placed on his last two starts and knows this track, having finished second here once.
- 12Uncle Al45/100Uncle Al is a fair performer who showed improved form when winning last time out over 2m7f.
- 13Of Corse I Can37/100Modest performer who has been largely out of form since a winning spell in 2023.
- 14Miami Jim36/100Modest performer who has failed to win in 11 starts over the last year.
The contenders
Slaney Opera KTB Fit 66/100
Slaney Opera arrives as a useful performer in decent nick, having produced a solid second last time out. He drops in class and returns to a trip at which he has placed before, though he is yet to win over three miles. First-time headgear is now applied in what looks a positive move. Trainer Nick Scholfield holds a strong 33% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a small sample, though jockey Harry Reed's 3% record at the track from 63 rides is less encouraging. The 8-year-old has one win from nine runs on good ground with three places and has no previous course form on record.
Normofthenorth KTB Fit 63/100
Normofthenorth is a useful performer who showed fair form when winning at this trip on his only previous attempt over the distance. He returns from a break with first-time headgear applied and steps back up in distance having last run over 2m6½f. The yard has an 11% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 87 runs while the jockey is 0-13 here. The 12-year-old has a strong record on good ground with one win from two starts and two places. He drops in class and could be suited by the return to this trip.
Betty's Tiara KTB Fit 62/100
Betty's Tiara is a useful mare who won on her only previous visit to Uttoxeter and has placed form on good ground. She steps up in trip today having shown little in two recent runs and now tries headgear for the first time. Trainer Ben Pauling has a solid 13% strike rate here from 181 runs while jockey Ben Jones, with a 16% strike rate at the track from 132 rides, also knows the venue well. The 8-year-old has one win from eight runs on good ground with four places and has a 1-1 course record.
Kenzo Des Bruyeres KTB Fit 62/100
Kenzo Des Bruyeres is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and race history. He drops back from 3m2f to a trip where he has twice failed to land a blow, while the first-time headgear is an unknown on a horse with only five career runs. The Bowen father-and-son combination both hold strong records at Uttoxeter, the trainer on 22% from 36 runs and the jockey on 21% from 572 rides. The 6-year-old has three runs on good ground without a win or a place.
Jullou De Grissay KTB Fit 59/100
Jullou De Grissay is a useful performer who has shown steady placed form this year without winning. He steps up markedly in trip today having failed to get competitive on his only previous 3m attempt, which asks a fresh question. First-time headgear is tried while the yard has a solid 17% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 327 runs. The 7-year-old has one win from eight runs on good ground with two places. Jockey Daire McConville is 0-9 at the track.
The rest of the field
Jongleur d'EtoilesKTB Fit 53/100
Jongleur d'Etoiles is a useful performer who arrives in reasonable form and has won twice over today's trip from only four attempts. First run at Uttoxeter is neutral and the switch to first-time headgear is another unknown, though he has handled good ground in the past with a win and three places from nine starts. Trainer's 11% strike rate at the track from a big sample is solid rather than eye-catching.
CollinghamKTB Fit 50/100
Collingham is a useful performer on his day with a solid record on good ground that includes six wins. He has been out of sorts since the turn of the year though and his only visit to Uttoxeter produced a modest sixth. The first-time headgear is now applied as he steps up in trip for the first time.
Jo Arengeot Bey AAKTB Fit 50/100
Jo Arengeot Bey AA is a fair performer who won over this trip here last year and has a solid 1-3 course record. Recent form has been mixed with a win sandwiched between some modest efforts and a pulled-up run last time, though first-time headgear is now applied. Trainer Donald McCain has a 13% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a large sample while Gavin Sheehan is the booked rider.
Queens WishKTB Fit 48/100
Queens Wish is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, winning once from six attempts. She has been competitive on good ground without winning and has mixed form here, finishing second on one of two visits. The yard holds a solid 14% strike rate at Uttoxeter.
Jack's A LegendKTB Fit 45/100
Jack's A Legend is a useful performer who has shown some ability on his recent starts but has failed to win or place in five runs on good ground and pulled up on his only visit to this track. The step up to 3m is an unknown and he now tries first-time headgear. Trainer has a solid 12% strike rate here from a big sample.
Izzy's GreyKTB Fit 45/100
Izzy's Grey is a fair handicapper who has been placed on his last two starts and knows this track, having finished second here once. He has shown he can be competitive on good ground and at this trip though he is still winless in both, while the first-time headgear is an unknown. The trainer's poor 0-16 record at Uttoxeter is a clear negative.
Uncle AlKTB Fit 45/100
Uncle Al is a fair performer who showed improved form when winning last time out over 2m7f. He now steps up to 3m for the first time in first-time headgear while making his debut at Uttoxeter, where the trainer has a 0% strike rate from 15 runs. He has been competitive on good ground without winning.
Of Corse I CanKTB Fit 37/100
Of Corse I Can is a modest performer who has been largely out of form since a winning spell in 2023. He steps up markedly in trip today having shown little at 2m5f last time and is now tried in first-time headgear. Trainer has a solid 11% strike rate from 415 runs at Uttoxeter.
Miami JimKTB Fit 36/100
Miami Jim is a modest performer who has failed to win in 11 starts over the last year. He has shown only poor form at this track and on good ground while the first-time headgear is an unknown. Trainer's modest record here adds little confidence.
KTB verdict
Slaney Opera is the KTB Selection. He arrives in decent form with a solid second last time out, drops in class to a trip at which he has placed before and now tries first-time headgear for a yard that has a strong 33% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a small sample. The 8-year-old looks well treated on his best efforts and the combination of the drop in grade and the new headgear could be significant. Main dangers include Normofthenorth, who won at this trip on his only previous attempt and returns from a break in first-time headgear, and Betty's Tiara, who won on her only previous visit to the track and also tries headgear for the first time.
KTB Selection Slaney Opera
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Slaney Opera | 13/2 | Bet365 |
| Normofthenorth | 12/1 | 7Bet |
| Betty's Tiara | 20/1 | CopyBet |
| Kenzo Des Bruyeres | 15/2 | Bet365 |
| Jullou De Grissay | 16/1 | William Hill |
| Jongleur d'Etoiles | 13/2 | Bet365 |
| Collingham | 50/1 | Bet365 |
| Jo Arengeot Bey AA | 6/1 | 7Bet |
| Queens Wish | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| Jack's A Legend | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| Izzy's Grey | 5/1 | Bet365 |
| Uncle Al | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Of Corse I Can | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| Miami Jim | 50/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 3:15 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 the best trainer strike rate at Uttoxeter?
Slaney Opera's trainer Nick Scholfield has a 33% strike rate at Uttoxeter from a small sample of six runs with an A/E of 2.38.
How many of the field are wearing first-time headgear?
All 14 runners are wearing first-time headgear.
Which horse has course winning form at Uttoxeter?
Betty's Tiara won here on her only previous visit while Jo Arengeot Bey AA has won here with a 1-3 course record.
Who has the strongest jockey record at the track among the principals?
Among the principals, Ben Jones has a 16% strike rate at Uttoxeter from 132 rides with an A/E of 0.98, while Sean Bowen has a 21% strike rate from 572 rides with an A/E of 0.99.
Which horses have previous winning form at this trip?
Normofthenorth won at this trip on his only previous attempt, Jongleur d'Etoiles has won twice over today's trip from four attempts, and Jo Arengeot Bey AA won over this trip here last year.
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