Racecourse Guide

Uttoxeter
National Hunt

Staffordshire · home to more jockey history than almost any small track in Britain

⬤ National Hunt
Turf
Left-Handed
Undulating, Sharp

Shape

Left-Handed Oval ~1m2½f

Track Type

Undulating, Sharp

Fences

8 per circuit

Hurdles

9 per circuit

Run-in

Under 1 furlong short

Direction

Left-handed

Course Highlight

Midlands Grand National Premier Handicap

Ownership

Arena Racing Company since 2012

Course Overview

What is Uttoxeter like as a jumps track?

Uttoxeter is left-handed, an oval of about 1 mile 2½ furlongs with a dog-leg, “S”-shaped back straight that undulates as it rises over Clump Hill, before a downhill run around the far bend into a flat, galloping 4-furlong home straight. The run-in is short, under a furlong. The track is widely described as sharp and tight, suiting a nippy, handy horse over an out-and-out galloper — jockey Mick Fitzgerald has said it puts a premium on a horse’s ability to travel on the bridle. The chase course carries 8 fences a circuit, roughly half of them falling in the home straight before the winning post, which sharpens every finish; the hurdle course has been reduced from 10 to 9 flights a circuit in recent seasons. The going can turn testing in wet weather despite the course generally favouring good ground.

Uttoxeter opened in 1907 at the Wood Lane site, taking over the racing interests of the recently closed Keele Park course. Racing was suspended for both World Wars — the site was requisitioned by the War Department during the second — and the course reopened on 12 April 1952 in front of a 12,000-strong crowd, after Uttoxeter Urban Council bought it from the previous owners. Sir Stanley Clarke and his company Northern Racing bought the course from the local council in 1988; Northern Racing merged with Arena Leisure in 2012 to form Arena Racing Company, which has owned and operated Uttoxeter continuously ever since. In 2006, a fire in a sponsorship van caused a 100-minute suspension of racing, with no injuries reported.

Because Uttoxeter is a quick track, it naturally puts a premium on a horse’s ability to travel on the bridle. If you’re already shoving one along with a circuit to go there, you’re going to struggle to win, whether you’re riding over fences or hurdles. Tactically, it’s much the same for both disciplines, and punters shouldn’t be alarmed if they see a jockey going wide down the back straight, because there’s actually a little bit of an ’S’ configuration there and the shortest way is not necessarily on the inside.Mick Fitzgerald, former top jump jockey — At The Races

Course Facts

Founded 1907; reopened 1952 after Uttoxeter Urban Council bought the course
Ownership Arena Racing Company since a 2012 merger (Northern Racing from 1988) — continuous ARC ownership since then
Jockey history Two separate career and season milestone records connect directly to this course

The Circuit

Shape Left-handed, ~1m2½f, dog-leg back straight rising over Clump Hill
Fences 8 per circuit, roughly half in the home straight
Character Sharp and tight, rewards a horse’s ability to travel on the bridle

Notable Races

When does Uttoxeter race?

Premier Handicap

Midlands Grand National

Run over ~4m2f, held in May. First run in 1969, its distance has changed repeatedly over the decades, most recently settling at 4m2f8y with 25 fences. Held Listed status until 2022, reclassified as a Premier Handicap in 2023 when Listed status was removed from handicap racing nationally. David Pipe has trained a record 4 winners (2011-2014); Synchronised won here in 2010 before landing the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Listed

Summer Cup

Run over 3m2f, held in June/July. Launched in 2000 as the longer “Summer National” before being cut to its current distance and rebranded in 2012.

Pace Bias

Do front-runners win at Uttoxeter?

No robust quantified front-runner-versus-hold-up data has been published for Uttoxeter specifically. What is quantified is a market-favourite win rate of 34.9%, above the national average of around 32%. Qualitatively, jockey Mick Fitzgerald has described the course as putting a premium on a horse’s ability to travel on the bridle, with prominent racing paying off on the chase course particularly when the ground is firm — directional evidence, not a statistic.

Run Style Bias — Qualitative + One Statistic

▲ Prominent/On the bridle

No published statistic — qualitative expert view only

─ Market favourites

34.9% win rate, above the ~32% national average

Statistics · Since 2010

Which trainers and jockeys win most at Uttoxeter?

Trainer	Runs	Wins	Win%	Places	Place%	A/E	P/L
1 Skelton, Daniel	628	144	22.93%	281	44.75%	1.00	-59.87
2 O’Neill, Jonjo and AJ	757	100	13.21%	226	29.85%	0.81	-155.36
3 O’Brien, Fergal	493	83	16.84%	201	40.77%	0.96	-32.60
4 Murphy, Olly	387	82	21.19%	160	41.34%	0.97	-40.74
5 McCain Jnr, D	568	74	13.03%	173	30.46%	0.83	-134.65
6 Pipe, D E	419	66	15.75%	150	35.80%	0.91	-48.92
7 Newland, Dr R D P	274	66	24.09%	125	45.62%	1.05	-6.29
8 Twiston-Davies, N A	415	65	15.66%	156	37.59%	0.92	-94.33
9 Henderson, N J	253	58	22.92%	110	43.48%	0.91	-58.73
10 Longsdon, C E	312	52	16.67%	120	38.46%	0.97	-65.64
11 Mulholland, N P	399	46	11.53%	106	26.57%	0.88	-104.48
12 Bowen, Peter / Michael	311	43	13.83%	112	36.01%	0.90	-60.17
13 Vaughan, Tim	386	42	10.88%	115	29.79%	0.79	-129.95
14 Hobbs, P J / White, J	275	41	14.91%	95	34.55%	0.84	-108.30
15 Bailey, K C	317	38	11.99%	107	33.75%	0.75	-113.92
16 King, N B	274	37	13.50%	111	40.51%	0.85	-63.17
17 Smith, Mrs S J	250	35	14.00%	69	27.60%	1.15	+50.15
18 Fry, Harry	141	35	24.82%	64	45.39%	1.11	+17.03
19 Williams, Evan	318	34	10.69%	87	27.36%	0.83	-14.04
20 Greenall, O / Guerriero, J	310	34	10.97%	78	25.16%	1.03	-62.77

Uttoxeter NH, since 2010. Dan Skelton dominates the page on volume — 144 winners from 628 at 22.93% — but at A/E 1.00 and a level-stakes loss he is priced exactly right, which is what usually happens to a yard everyone knows targets a track. Sue Smith is the value name in the top 20: 14.00% from 250 runners at A/E 1.15 for +£50.15. Below the table, Michael Appleby (34 runs, A/E 1.72, +£44.00) and R J Bandey (34 runs, A/E 1.72, +£28.00) have both beaten their price on books worth a look, and Mick Easterby’s 23 runners here have returned A/E 3.13 — eye-catching, but far too small a sample to bet blind. Take on Tim Vaughan (386 runs, A/E 0.79) and Kim Bailey (317, A/E 0.75), both over-bet on volume.
Uttoxeter NH · Current trainers, since 2010

Jockey	Runs	Wins	Win%	Places	Place%	A/E	P/L
1 Skelton, Harry	470	136	28.94%	245	52.13%	1.09	+53.25
2 Bowen, Sean P	575	118	20.52%	242	42.09%	0.98	-72.57
3 Twiston-Davies, Sam	536	94	17.54%	209	38.99%	0.95	-10.58
4 Sheehan, Gavin	329	62	18.85%	142	43.16%	1.14	+23.23
5 Hughes, Brian	401	50	12.47%	124	30.92%	0.88	-93.42
6 Burke, Jonathan	231	41	17.75%	94	40.69%	1.14	-22.59
7 Quinlan, Sean	392	29	7.40%	89	22.70%	0.71	-196.84
8 Wedge, Adam	288	29	10.07%	82	28.47%	0.93	+7.50
9 McLernon, R P	348	28	8.05%	67	19.25%	0.78	-103.48
10 Woods, K K	229	28	12.23%	78	34.06%	1.02	+18.82
11 Dunne, R T	277	25	9.03%	71	25.63%	0.86	-34.96
12 Bowen, James C	194	25	12.89%	70	36.08%	0.84	+40.64
13 Sheppard, Stan	172	24	13.95%	53	30.81%	1.04	+16.07
14 Edwards, Lee	295	23	7.80%	71	24.07%	0.84	-110.84
15 Quinlan, Jack	238	23	9.66%	65	27.31%	0.82	-104.16
16 Boinville, Nico	150	23	15.33%	52	34.67%	0.82	-58.35
17 Poste, Ben J	352	22	6.25%	69	19.60%	0.85	-116.92
18 Bass, David	218	22	10.09%	56	25.69%	0.75	-84.23
19 Powell, Brendan	196	21	10.71%	54	27.55%	0.90	-9.56
20 Tinkler, Andrew	147	21	14.29%	45	30.61%	1.02	-32.26

Uttoxeter NH, since 2010. Harry Skelton is the standout and unusually still worth the price: 136 winners from 470 at 28.94%, A/E 1.09 and +£53.25 to level stakes — a profit at the top of a page is rare. Gavin Sheehan is the other genuine edge, 18.85% from 329 rides at A/E 1.14 for +£23.23. Sean Bowen and Sam Twiston-Davies ride plenty of winners but at A/E 0.98 and 0.95 the market has them about right. Hugh Nugent is the one name below the top 20 worth watching (32 rides, A/E 1.51). Oppose the riders the market over-rates here: Sean Quinlan (392 rides, A/E 0.71), R P McLernon (348, A/E 0.78) and David Bass (218, A/E 0.75).
Uttoxeter NH · Current riders, since 2010

Sire Statistics · Since 2010

Which sires do best at Uttoxeter?

Sire	Runs	Wins	Win%	Places	Place%	A/E	P/L
1 Kayf Tara	562	72	12.81%	183	32.56%	0.92	-118.26
2 Milan	481	65	13.51%	167	34.72%	0.89	-33.89
3 Presenting	458	63	13.76%	150	32.75%	0.91	-128.04
4 Flemensfirth (USA)	414	60	14.49%	133	32.13%	0.98	-86.46
5 Yeats (IRE)	280	46	16.43%	95	33.93%	1.09	-26.51
6 Westerner	349	45	12.89%	116	33.24%	0.84	-129.55
7 Oscar (IRE)	391	43	11.00%	119	30.43%	0.82	-142.24
8 Beneficial	369	42	11.38%	102	27.64%	0.93	-131.96
9 Midnight Legend	401	40	9.98%	125	31.17%	0.72	-163.87
10 King’s Theatre (IRE)	264	38	14.39%	95	35.98%	0.94	-16.96
11 Getaway (GER)	347	36	10.37%	87	25.07%	0.79	-121.55
12 Mahler	318	36	11.32%	103	32.39%	0.82	-82.31
13 Court Cave (IRE)	224	32	14.29%	78	34.82%	1.08	+41.65
14 Black Sam Bellamy (IRE)	197	27	13.71%	57	28.93%	1.05	-20.61
15 Scorpion (IRE)	196	27	13.78%	62	31.63%	1.10	+36.50
16 Old Vic	167	27	16.17%	64	38.32%	1.03	+2.76
17 Fame And Glory	151	27	17.88%	55	36.42%	1.18	+15.81
18 Stowaway	214	23	10.75%	61	28.50%	0.76	-63.42
19 Shantou (USA)	197	23	11.68%	62	31.47%	0.73	-83.04
20 Definite Article	126	22	17.46%	42	33.33%	1.21	+0.29

Uttoxeter NH, since 2010. The staying-chaser sires head the list on winners — Kayf Tara (72), Milan (65), Presenting (63) — but every one of them sits at A/E 0.89 to 0.92 and a level-stakes loss, so the familiar names are all fully backed. The value is with Definite Article (126 runs, 17.46%, A/E 1.21) and Fame And Glory (151 runs, 17.88%, A/E 1.18, +£15.81). Further down there is a cluster worth knowing: Refuse To Bend (25 runs, A/E 2.09, +£70.00), Manduro (24 runs, A/E 2.21, +£28.00) and Erhaab (29 runs, A/E 2.12, +£24.00) have all comfortably beaten their prices, on samples small enough that they are a pointer rather than a plan. Oppose Midnight Legend (401 runs, A/E 0.72), Shantou (197, A/E 0.73) and Stowaway (214, A/E 0.76).
Uttoxeter NH · Since 2010

How to read these tables. The figures are a first-party pull for this course and code covering runs since 1 January 2010, taken as a snapshot rather than updated live. A/E compares actual wins with the wins implied by starting price, so a figure above 1.00 means the group has won more often than its SP suggested. P/L is profit or loss to £1 win stakes at starting price.

Insider Knowledge

Betting Angles

🏇

Travel on the Bridle Wins Here

Uttoxeter is sharp and tight, putting a premium — in Mick Fitzgeralds words — on a horses ability to travel on the bridle; nippy, handy types beat out-and-out gallopers.

🎯

Half the Fences Are in the Straight

Around half of each circuits fences fall in the home straight, sharpening every finish — a bold, accurate jumper still travelling turning in holds the edge.

🎯

Dan and Harry Skelton Lead the Modern Stats

The most consistently strong names across every recent-seasons dataset.

🌧️

Watch for Testing Ground

Despite generally favouring good going, Uttoxeter can ride genuinely testing in the wet — a shift that puts a premium on stamina.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Rating a Midlands Grand National form line as Listed-class. It lost Listed status in 2023 and now runs as a Premier Handicap — weight an old win here accordingly rather than as black-type form.
Backing an out-and-out galloper at Uttoxeter expecting stamina alone to tell. This is a sharp, tight track that rewards a nippy, handy horse able to travel on the bridle — one already needing to be shoved along with a circuit left to run is in trouble.
Assuming that nippy, handy edge holds regardless of ground. Uttoxeter generally favours good going, but it can turn genuinely testing in wet weather — a swing that hands the emphasis back to stamina.
Assuming the jumping test is over once a chaser turns for home. Roughly half of Uttoxeter’s chase fences fall in the home straight itself, so a bold, accurate jumper still travelling turning in keeps the real advantage right to the line.

Common Questions

Uttoxeter Racecourse FAQs

Is Uttoxeter left-handed or right-handed?

Left-handed, an oval of about 1m2½f with a dog-leg back straight.

Does the Midlands Grand National have Graded status?

No. It held Listed status until 2022 and has been a Premier Handicap since 2023, when Listed status was removed from handicap racing nationally.

Who owns Uttoxeter Racecourse?

Arena Racing Company, since a 2012 merger with Northern Racing, which bought the course in 1988.

What jockey records are connected to Uttoxeter?

AP McCoy broke Richard Dunwoody’s all-time career win record here in 2002, and Jonjo O’Neill rode a perfect five-timer here during his record-breaking 1977/78 champion jockey season.

Explore

Other Jumps Tracks

Market Rasen

Right-handed, another Jockey Club-adjacent Midlands track with a genuine debut-track story.

Stratford-on-Avon

Left-handed, sharp track, another Midlands jumps venue.

Wolverhampton

Left-handed, tight Tapeta oval, Britain’s first floodlit racecourse.

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