'Nothing has got close to him" - owner excited about leading Cheltenham Festival contender
4 hours ago
LEICESTER
20 January 2026
Tuesday 20th January
Next Meeting @leicesterraces Wednesday 28th January Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) Racecard
- Channel:
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Heavy
- Runners
- 8
- Type
- Hurdle
- Surface
- Turf
- Weather
- Cloudy
Selection
Selection
Selected At
Ubatuba
Selected at:
6/4
Irish point winner who looked above average when landing a maiden hurdle over C&D on rules debut, winning in style. Should serve it right up to Starzand here.
Bookmaker
Offer
Best Odds
Bet Here
6/4
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Racecard
No.(Draw)
Runner
Best Odds
C
Course Winner - Won before at this course
Small-field winner here (1m7f) in November; can improve again over this longer trip
81
Age: 5
Weight: 11-12
OR: -
Days: 64
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 25 | Lei Leicester | 15.5f Sft | 3MdH | 11-4 | 1/4 | Lady Dapple Rose (1L) | 4/1 | - | 99 |
| 18 Oct 25 | Nab Newton Abbot | 17f GS | 4NvH | 10-13 | 8/10 | Kapitein Kool (32L) | 6/5F | - | 73 |
Didn't jump well enough on last month's chase debut but won a novice hurdle in November
342-15
Age: 7
Weight: 11-12
OR: 117
Days: 44
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Dec 25 | Kel Kelso | 23.5f Sft | 3NvHcCh | 11-3 | 5/5 | King Of Answers (38L) | 9/2 | 120 | 92 |
| 12 Nov 25 | Ban Bangor-on-Dee | 23f Sft | 4NvH | 11-0 | 1/5 | Firm But Fair (7½L) | 9/2 | 115 | 120 |
| 1 Feb 25 | Wet Wetherby | 19.5f Sft | 4MdH | 11-4 | 2/14 | Lud'or (3L) | 12/1 | 110 | 109 |
| 13 Dec 24 | Ban Bangor-on-Dee | 19.5f Sft | 3MdH | 11-5 | 4/10 | Galassian (13½L) | 5/1 | - | 100 |
| 19 Nov 24 | Crl Carlisle | 20f GS | 4MdH | 11-4 | 3/11 | Ira Hayes (12½L) | 10/1 | - | 108 |
D
Distance Winner - Won before at this distance
Cold Recent Form Jockey - 1 wins from 25 in the last 14 days (4%)
Impressed on bumper debut last March and has quickly developed into a useful hurdler
1-12
Age: 6
Weight: 11-12
OR: 127
Days: 12
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 26 | Ffo Ffos Las | 16f Sft | 4NvH | 11-12 | 2/11 | Bossman Jack (1¾L) | 6/5 | - | 126 |
| 28 Oct 25 | Ffo Ffos Las | 20f Sft | 4MdH | 11-4 | 1/10 | Dig Deep (1½L) | 11/8F | - | 115 |
| 21 Mar 25 | Ffo Ffos Las | 16f Gd | 5MdNHF | 11-6 | 1/5 | Whiskey Yankee (7½L) | 13/8F | - | 115 |
CD
C&D Winner - Won before on this course at this distance
Good staying performance when winning soft-ground C&D maiden by 16l last month
1
Age: 6
Weight: 11-12
OR: -
Days: 47
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Dec 25 | Lei Leicester | 20.5f Sft | 4MdH | 10-13 | 1/8 | Shotgun Rider (16L) | 6/5F | - | 116 |
Cold Recent Form Trainer - 0 wins from 15 in the last 14 days (0%)
Not disgraced when last of five on hurdle debut (3m) but needs a big step forward here
5/5
Age: 9
Weight: 11-5
OR: -
Days: 48
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Dec 25 | Hay Haydock | 24.5f GS | 4MdH | 10-11 | 5/5 | Western Monkey (15½L) | 125/1 | - | 106 |
| 20 Mar 22 | Chp Chepstow | 16f GS | 5NHF | 10-9 | 5/8 | Knowsley Road (16L) | 15/2 | - | 97 |
Has not shown enough on first three hurdling starts to suggest he can feature
3P0
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: -
Days: 8
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 26 | Her Hereford | 16f Sft | 4NvH | 11-3 | 11/12 | Vol Royale (53L) | 150/1 | - | 56 |
| 27 Dec 25 | Chp Chepstow | 16f GS | 3NvH | 11-0 | PU/11 | Mossy Fen Road () | 125/1 | - | - |
| 13 Dec 25 | Lin Lingfield | 19.5f GS | 4NvH | 11-0 | 3/5 | Masked Man (23L) | 40/1 | - | 82 |
Cold Recent Form Jockey - 0 wins from 12 in the last 14 days (0%)
Safely held in two points last month and has very tough assignment on rules debut
Form:
Age: 5
Weight: 11-5
OR: -
Days: -
Has some ability but makes no significant appeal in this company
66
Age: 8
Weight: 10-12
OR: -
Days: 32
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 25 | Utt Uttoxeter | 16f Hy | 4MdH | 10-7 | 6/11 | Minella Jury (29L) | 40/1 | - | 70 |
| 29 Nov 25 | Ban Bangor-on-Dee | 19.5f Sft | 4MdH | 10-4 | 6/9 | Atlantic Lad (24L) | 50/1 | - | 83 |
Verdict
Ubatuba galloped on strongly for a wide-margin C&D success on last month's rules debut but STARZAND sets the form standard.
Starzand
Betting Forecast:
8/11 Starzand,
9/4 Ubatuba,
9/2 Skuna Bay,
14/1 Hot To Go,
33/1 Bresiliant,
100/1 Tombereau,
200/1 Could Be You,
Fine As Wine
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