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Uhtred gets off the mark over hurdles

Uhtred leads Prevaricate at the lastUhtred leads Prevaricate at the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Listed bumper winner and third-season novice Uhtred justified 4/9 favouritism in winning Naas' opening BetVictor Maiden Hurdle today, scoring for trainer Joseph O'Brien, jockey Rachael Blackmore and Gigginstown House Stud.

Uhtred returned from a 14 months absence last February and while defeated in two late-season Listed and Grade 1 hurdles, his 'beaten bonus' was the preservation of novice status for 2021/22. That decision paid dividends today as his experience helped in beating runner-up Prevaricate by two and a quarter lengths.

Following the race, O'Brien's assistant Brendan Powell reported “Rachael said he’d be better in a better race when they are going on at a pace. He’s not a natural front-runner but the other horse was messing him about a bit so she had to go on from him.

“His bumper form is rock solid and for some reason he wasn’t right last year but he’s come back this year and has been working well.

“He jumped well on the whole and just popped the last. He’ll stay two and a half but has a turn of foot for a strong run two miles.”

Uhtred the Bold, assassinated in 1016, is the protagonist in both The Saxon Stories novel series, and The Last Kingdom television series.

Quotes from Alan Magee

1st
4/9Fav
Tote €1.60 €1.10
2nd
2.25L
7/2
€1.30
3rd
1.75L
14/1
€3.30
4th
4.25L
7/1
About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.