Ubatuba sparked Cheltenham Festival dreams when he played a dual role at Leicester for trainer Olly Murphy and jockey Ben Sutton.
He was an impressive course winner in December and was sent off at 15-8 to follow up in the Next Meeting @leicesterraces on Wednesday 28 January Novices’ Hurdle, in which the highly rated Starzand of Philip Hobbs and Johnson White was a warm favorite to return to winning ways.
Despite the presence of Starzand – who slowly dropped to third – it was Murphy’s six-year-old who cemented his reputation and booked his ticket to a rise in class with an impressive performance in testing conditions, returning home nine and a half lengths ahead of runner-up Skuna Bay.
Ubatuba has entries in both the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the festival and he could now head to Kelso or Haydock in the coming weeks to further stake his Prestbury Park claims.
Murphy said: “Ubatuba is a strong stayer who likes soft ground and hopefully he can handle a step up in his class next time.
“He could potentially be one for the Albert Bartlett and he is a horse that will have a ride between now and Cheltenham and that will determine a lot more.
“He either goes to Kelso for the bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (on February 28) or to 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 reasonable level and that he is a modest horse that remains good.”
Murphy and Sutton enjoyed more success when 11-8 favorite Seaview Rock obliged in the Join Racing TV Now Maiden Hurdle.
Second to Dan Skelton’s Lanzarote third A Pai De Nom on the circuit last time, there was no rival to worry about this time as he led home a one-two for the Warren Chase trainer, with stablemate Mister Ursus in second.
Murphy added: “He is a sharper type of horse than Ubatuba and has improved since his first run. He was decisive there and hopefully he can win many more races.”
“It’s nice to have two winners for both Ben and Nick (Sutton, owner) who have started supporting the yard this season.”
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