held up, headway to join leaders 12, led approaching 3 out, soon headed, 3 lengths down and 2nd when fell last
led to 7th, weakened 14th
held up towards rear, led 5 out, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, quickly lost place 12th, soon pulled up
held up in rear, quickly pulled up before 14th
held up, headway to lead 3 out, left clear last, driven out
tracked leader, led 7th, headed 5 out, weakened next
held up in touch, pushed along and behind halfway, beaten when mistake and unseated rider 4 out
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, left 2nd last when hampered, no impression on winner
whipped around and unseated rider start
A staying trip and fast ground suits Learning The Blues who is not badly treated and can win this at the main expense of Artic Reason and Croc An Oir. The selection was good enough to win off a mark of 121 over hurdles not that long ago and has gradually been finding his feet over fences this spring. Today he starts from a mark of 115 and the application of blinkers makes him more appealing, so in the hope that they will have the desired effect he is taken to score. Artic Reason won over this trip at Uttoxeter last time, beating Gallic Dawn comfortably. Conditions again suit, and on paper he looks to have a decent chance again with a penalty. However, consistency is not his strong suit and so we¿ll take him on. Croc An Oir looks a leading player and is another recent 3m 2f Uttoxeter scorer. He has conditions in his favour and was competitive from this mark in defeat last time. Catch The Perk has won from higher marks than this in the past but does prefer juice underfoot and unless it rains his chance looks to be reduced. Fast ground suits Pams Oak, who stays well and is not badly handicapped here either, so he¿s have a chance of taking home some prize money, but we¿ll take Learning The Blues to score.
Learning The Blues (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Held up jumped slowly 1st, chased leading pair approaching 4 out, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 25l behind Nikola (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov chs (4) gf in May.
Catch The Perk (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Led to 7th, remained in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Russian Sky (10-0) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Professor Hegarty (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, 4 lengths 4th, driven when fell 3 out in race won by Russian Sky (10-0) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May, 10 ran.
Nick Junior (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, headway approaching 9th, weakened after 11th, behind when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Gallant Approach (11-7) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (C) gs in Dec '05, 9 ran.
Croc An Oir (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Held up, hampered 15th headway under pressure 4 out, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Chabrimal Minster (11-4) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in May.
Pams Oak 9-2 (10-8) Chased leaders until fell at the 8th in race won by Fourty Acers (10-13) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf in May, 6 ran.
Good Book (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division and blundered and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Chabrimal Minster (11-4) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in May, 11 ran.
Ad Murum (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 12th, went 3rd 14th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 9, 25l behind The Sneakster (9-9) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Castlemore (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) In touch, hit 9th, ridden and hit 13th, losing touch when blundered 15th, well behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by September Moon (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May, 10 ran.
Artic Reason (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Held up, hit 6th, headway 11th, led approaching 4 out, clear from 3 out, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Gallik Dawn (11-7) by 10l, 7 ran.