Good Ground, Sharp Fences, and a Tuesday Worth Watching

Right, settle in and grab yourself a drink, because Uttoxeter is serving up a fine Tuesday afternoon of jumping, and your man here has been through the Uttoxeter racecard with a fine-toothed comb. Six races, a mix of novice chases, conditional jockeys' fare, and a feature handicap chase worth fifteen grand — there's enough here to keep us entertained from the first fence to the final hurdle.

Now, the going. The clerk of the course is reporting Good to Firm, Good in places, with the going stick having been recalibrated — which is the sort of thing that should make every punter sit up and pay attention. Recalibrated stick means the readings are being taken fresh, so take the official description at face value: this is fast ground for September jumping. The ball-bearing ground will put a premium on horses that handle quick conditions, and any stamina-sapper in the field that wants a bit of cut underfoot can whistle for it today. Pedigree for fast ground and proven course form are going to matter enormously.

The Feature Race: Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow Handicap Chase (15:40)

The centrepiece of the card is the £15,000 Class 3 handicap chase over 3m 1f 100y, and with only four runners, it's a cracking little puzzle. This is the race I've been circling since the entries came out, and I'll tell you why — the two market leaders are both serious horses for this level, and the going is going to split opinion right down the middle.

Ki Woo (6yo, rated 133) heads the weights and carries the course and distance flag — that [D] beside his name tells you he's already won over this trip at Uttoxeter, and on ground like today's, that experience is priceless. Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero have been in fine form, and Harry Skelton — wait, no, it's Jack Tudor in the saddle here, which is a strong booking in itself. Tudor is a young man going places, and he won't be overawed by the occasion. The combination of top weight, course form, and a confident pilot makes Ki Woo the one to beat.

But I wouldn't dismiss Dunkerque (6yo, rated 132) for a single solitary second. Jennie Candlish's six-year-old is only a pound behind Ki Woo in the ratings and gets the services of Sean Quinlan, who is as good a jump jockey as there is operating outside the very top tier. Quinlan has a habit of producing horses at exactly the right moment, and if Dunkerque handles the quick ground — which is the question mark — he could give Ki Woo a proper race. This looks like a two-horse war, with Snipe (9yo, 126, Harry Skelton) a solid each-way option if the pace collapses, and Fever Dream (8yo, 112) likely to find the company too hot.

Tom's call: Ki Woo to win, Dunkerque to chase him home. Back Ki Woo but keep an eye on the market — if Dunkerque drifts, snap him up each way.

Key Runners Across The Card

13:55 — Novices' Handicap Chase (3m)

Three runners, and it looks like a straightforward enough affair on paper — but jump racing has a wonderful habit of making fools of us all. Kiwi de Cotte (6yo, rated 117) is the top-rated and gets Harry Skelton aboard, which is as good a reason as any to be interested. Dan Skelton's yard has been firing on all cylinders, and Kiwi de Cotte looks the class act in this field. In The Trenches (112, Sean Quinlan) will make him work for it, but on good to firm ground over three miles, the higher-rated horse with the better jockey usually prevails. Passengerontheship — and God love whoever named that horse — has course and distance form [D] and Jonathan England takes the ride. Don't completely write off the seven-year-old; that course form counts for something on a track like this.

14:30 — Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase (2m 4f)

Seven runners, a wide spread of ratings, and the conditionals' race is always a lottery — but there are clues if you look hard enough. Saint Arion (5yo, rated 97) is the top-rated and runs for the Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill yard with Benjamin Macey in the saddle. A five-year-old at this level on quick ground has plenty of upside, and if the Ballydoyle-adjacent O'Neill operation have bothered to send him here, they fancy their chances. Malinas Glory (9yo, 95) gets Toby McCain-Mitchell up and has course and distance form [C,D] — that's the sort of solid foundation that wins conditional races. At 9 years old, Malinas Glory knows his job, and on a track he's proven himself on, he could nick this at a decent price. Each-way flag on Malinas Glory.

15:05 — Novices' Hurdle (2m)

Five runners and the standout is obvious — Tralee Girl (4yo, rated 115) for Dan Skelton with Harry Skelton riding. She's the only rated runner in the field and that 115 mark puts her head and shoulders above the unrated novices. On fast ground over two miles, a sharp, well-schooled Skelton inmate should be winning this. The others will need to produce something extraordinary to deny her. Esther Spring (Jack Tudor) is interesting for Christian Williams, who knows how to place a horse, but this looks like Tralee Girl's race to lose.

16:15 — Mares' Handicap Hurdle (2m 3f)

The mares' race is a tricky one, but Guts And Glory (4yo, rated 101, Stan Sheppard) catches the eye with course and distance form [D]. Clive Boultbee-Brooks doesn't run horses for the exercise, and a four-year-old with a 101 rating in a Class 5 mares' race is well-treated if she's in form. The ground should suit. Jammy Jay (98) and Miracles Do Happen (94) are both dangers, but Guts And Glory's course form gives her the edge.

16:48 — Handicap Hurdle (3m 2f)

The closer is a three-mile-plus hurdle and Prince de Juilley (9yo, rated 106) jumps out with course and distance form [C,D]. Alastair Ralph's veteran has been around the block, knows Uttoxeter well, and Ciaran Gethings is a capable handler. Lacrima (5yo, rated 108) is top-rated and represents the Nick Scholfield yard — a trainer who has been making steady progress — but on ground this quick over this trip, experience and course form could trump raw ratings. Watch the market here.

Going Conditions — The Deciding Factor Today

I can't stress this enough: Good to Firm with the stick recalibrated is a significant piece of information. We're talking about fast ground for September jumping, and any horse that wants cut in the ground is going to find this a slog rather than a pleasure. The horses to back today are those proven on quick ground, with the athletic action to handle a firm surface without jarring up. Ki Woo's course and distance form, Tralee Girl's rating advantage, and Malinas Glory's C&D credentials all point to horses that have already shown they can handle varying conditions at this track. Stamina pedigrees matter less when the ground is fast — speed and jumping technique come to the fore.

Tom's Best Bets Summary

  • Best Bet: Ki Woo (15:40) — Course and distance winner, top-rated, Jack Tudor in the saddle. Hard to oppose.
  • Next Best: Tralee Girl (15:05) — Rated 115 in a novices' hurdle, Harry Skelton up. This is a penalty kick.
  • Each-Way Play: Malinas Glory (14:30) — Course and distance form, experienced campaigner, Toby McCain-Mitchell a capable conditional. Should go well at a price.
  • Speculative Interest: Guts And Glory (16:15) — Course form in a mares' race, well-treated at the ratings. Boultbee-Brooks doesn't travel for fun.
  • One To Watch: Dunkerque (15:40) — If he handles the ground, Sean Quinlan will have him in the right place at the right time.

It's a cracking Tuesday afternoon at Uttoxeter, and the fast ground is going to make for some proper racing. Get yourself settled, back the selections with your head not your heart, and enjoy the jumping. Good luck to all — you'll need a bit of it, as ever.