held up in 4th, mistake 6th, closed and in touch 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened last
with leader, led approaching 2nd to 7th, led again 4 out, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
held up in rear, raced keenly, struggling from 8th
in rear, last by 4th, losing touch from 5th and jumping right, tailed off 6th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leading pair, mistake 4 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well flat
High Bird Humphrey has been running consistently well over fences of late but may struggle to defy the penalty incurred for his narrow success at Catterick in March and a better bet looks to be ALL FOR THE CAUSE, who is preferred to Star Shot. Paul Webber's gelding ran better back over hurdles at Bangor last time and he has to be considered returning to fences over a trip that should suit more than the longer trips that he has been racing over of late. Ben de Haan's Matuhi has run some reasonable races over hurdles and would have every chance if able to reproduce a similar level of form on what is his first start over fences. Peter Bowen's Histoire de Moeurs has been well beaten in recent starts over hurdles and on his only previous start over fences so he looks best watched. Apache Dawn has shown some ability over hurdles and could be of interest first time over the larger obstacles but a safer option looks to be All For The Cause. George Moore's gelding has shown a consistent level of form over fences of late and a reproduction of recent form may well suffice in this company.
High Bird Humphrey 4-1 (10-12) Always handy, led 3 out, ridden approaching last, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Professor Higgins (10-8) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
All For The Cause (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 5 out, outpaced next, 4th of 6, 23l behind Salford City (11-6) at Perth 2m nov stks (2) gd in Apr.
Apache Dawn 40-1 (10-13) Not fluent 4th, always in rear, 11th of 14, 35l behind Bedizen (11-5) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Matuhi 14-1 (11-0) In touch, led 3 out, headed and weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 10l behind I Have Dreamed (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Star Shot (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) In touch, raced keenly, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 4th of 9, 7l behind Danny Zuko (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
Histoire De Moeurs (FR) 14-1 (10-5) Held up, closer order 4 out, ridden 2 out, soon held, 7th of 9, 15l behind Bazart (10-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
