Ubatuba enters Festival equation with Leicester strike

Ubatuba ignited dreams of the Cheltenham Festival when starring in a double for trainer Olly Murphy and jockey Ben Sutton at Leicester.

An impressive course winner in December, he was sent off 15-8 to follow up in the Next Meeting @leicesterraces Wednesday 28th January Novices’ Hurdle, in which Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s well-regarded Starzand was a warm favourite to return to winning ways.

However, despite the presence of Starzand – who faded tamely into third – it was Murphy’s six-year-old who enhanced his reputation and booked his ticket for a move up in grade with an impressive display in testing conditions, coming home nine and a half lengths clear of runner-up Skuna Bay.

Ubatuba has entries for both the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival and he could now head to either Kelso or Haydock in the coming weeks to further state his Prestbury Park claims.

Murphy said: “Ubatuba is a strong stayer, who loves soft ground, and hopefully he will cope with a step up in grade next time.

“He could potentially be one for the Albert Bartlett and he’s a horse who will have a run between now and Cheltenham and that will determine a lot more.

“He will either go to Kelso for the bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (on February 28) or Haydock for the Grade Two Prestige (February 14) and then we can see where we are and go from there.

“I would say he has a fair level of ability and is an unassuming horse that stays well.”

Murphy and Sutton enjoyed more success when 11-8 favourite Seaview Rock obliged in the Join Racing TV Now Maiden Hurdle.

Second to Dan Skelton’s Lanzarote third A Pai De Nom at the track last time, there was no such rival to worry on this occasion as he led home a one-two for the Warren Chase trainer, with stablemate Mister Ursus in second.

Murphy added: “He’s a sharper type of horse to Ubatuba and has improved since his first run. He was decisive there and hopefully he can win plenty more races.

“It’s nice to have two winners for both Ben and Nick (Sutton, owner) who have started supporting the yard this season.”