Berlin Blue landed a hat-trick at Uttoxeter in 2000 and certainly caught the eye last time out when he made his return over hurdles at Cheltenham.
Berlin Blue won three chases at Uttoxeter in the summer of 2000, but his trainer spotted the early signs of leg trouble and laid his horse off for a year, before a highly promising return over hurdles at Cheltenham.
Conditions are ideal for
Berlin Blue, who showed a real liking for the Uttoxeter fences when rattling off a hat-trick over them early in his chasing career in the summer of 2000.
Berlin Blue ran with plenty of credit at Newbury over three miles, and it is safe to forget his outing on dead ground at Aintree last week.
Control, Fatehalkhair, Merchants Friend, 25 Kit Smartie, Sir Frosty,
Berlin Blue, Cedar Green, 33 bar.
Enrique, Last Option, 16 Carryonharry, Spendid, 20 Fatehalkhair, Merchants Friend, Take Control, 25
Berlin Blue, Cedar Green, Kit Smartie, Sir Frosty, 33 bar.
The field is completed by Robert Stronge's
Berlin Blue, and Scoring Pedigree from Seamus Mullins's stable.
Trainer Robert Stronge has ruled
Berlin Blue out of the contest in favour of waiting for better ground.
Stayers such as Ackzo, Granit d'Estruval, The Quads, Valigan and
Berlin Blue are going to struggle for toe even if the ground is very soft, while Strong Paladin is 11 and rarely wins nowadays.
Earthmover gets the chop because he rarely wins, while
Berlin Blue is a short price for a horse who has never convinced with his jumping and prefers faster ground.
Berlin Blue was a mightily impressive winner of the Uttoxeter Summer National in July, but even his trainer admitted it wasn't the strongest race for the high level of prize-money.