led until 6th, lost place after next, no impression on leaders after
tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 4th, rallied and went 3rd after 2 out, no impression
prominent on outside, ridden 7th, beaten when not fluent 3 out
held up, headway 4th, challenged 3 out, led before 2 out, clear when not fluent last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd or 5th, led next, headed after 7th, weakening when mistake 2 out, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 1st or 5th, some headway 7th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
in touch, not always fluent, challenged 6th, led after next, headed before 2 out, mistake and no impression on winner last
prominent, lost place 6th, pulled up quickly before next
held up, struggling 7th, well beaten 3 out, stayed on flat, no impression
Nonrunner
One or two old friends are on view in this division of the handicap hurdle although we will oppose them with FIRST MORNING. Michael Blake's eight-year-old won recently at Stratford, and as that was in a conditional riders event, he arrives here unpenalised and Micheal Nolan can claim a further 3lb out of the saddle. Record Breaker has failed to transfer some of his ability from the Flat into this sphere, while Sangfroid hasn't shown much since joining Tim Vaughan and connections have given him a sizeable break. Were he able to reproduce any of the form he showed for Nick Williams a couple of seasons ago, a mark of 98 would appear to be generous in the extreme. Richard Johnson replaces an amateur pilot on Am I Blue and the market is watched. Advisor languishes some way lower in the handicap than he did at his peak but he remains best watched at present.
Am I Blue 28-1 (11-5) Slowly away, behind, not fluent 3rd, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer, 6th of 15, 25l behind Inside Knowledge (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jun.
Sangfroid 7-2 (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 7th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Bally Sands (11-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Record Breaker (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Led until after 1st, prominent, challenged before 7th, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 23l behind Waterford Star (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Advisor (FR) 28-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden after 7th, lost place before 3 out, 6th of 12, 37l behind Kusadasi (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jun.
First Morning (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching last, driven and stayed on to lead last strides, won at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf beating Native Colony (11-9) by nk, 9 ran.
Patricktom Boru (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, 41l behind Green Lightning (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
Pirans Car 25-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, soon pushed along, plugged on same pace, no impression, 8th of 12, 7l behind Divine Folly (10-10) at Worcester 2m 4f cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Terntheothercheek 16-1 (10-2) In touch, not fluent and lost place 5th, weakened after 7th, went modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 31l behind Scoter Fontaine (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Dalrymple (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out until 3 out, went 2nd again before 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Planetoid (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Jun.
Exiles Return (IRE) 66-1 (9-11) Led, headed before 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 8th of 15, 38l behind Gap Of Dunloe (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.