chased leaders, led after 8th, ridden and headed last, weakened final 100 yards
held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden after 8th, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, stayed on approaching last, never reached leaders
mid-division, raced keenly, hit 5th, headway 3 out, led going well last, ridden flat, stayed on
raced wide in touch, jumped left 1st 2, 2nd briefly before 3 out where mistake, soon weakened
held up in rear, shaken up 3 out, never dangerous
prominent, pulled hard, challenging approaching last, no extra final 100 yards
held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway approaching 3 out, challenging approaching last, stayed on flat, always held
tracked leader, pulled hard, saddle slipped and led approaching 3rd where jumped right, soon hanging right, headed 5th, pulled up before next
mid-division, hit 3rd, headway approaching 8th, weakened approaching last
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Farmers Cross was good value for his win at Chepstow last month but an 8lb rise for that success leaves the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding with more to do today and preference is for SHIP'S HILL, who gets the vote ahead of Signalman. Peter Monteith's gelding has struggled since winning a novices' hurdle at Kelso in November but may do better now running in a handicap for the first time. James Moffatt's Quatro Pierji is lightly raced but looks to be going the right way and made a pleasing debut in a handicap at Ayr in March on his latest start so he has claims but has been raised 5lbs since that outing. Naughty By Nature has been running consistently well but would probably prefer a softer surface, while Gary Moore's Premier Des Marais may appreciate the return to hurdles but is hard to back with confidence following recent outings. The vote then goes to Nicky Henderson's Ship's Hill, who is coming back after an absence of over 10 months but lack of a recent run should not be of concern and he looks worth siding with off what seems a fair mark.
English City (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, effort and every chance 3 out, outpaced from next, 5th of 10, 33l behind South O'The Border (10-11) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Premier Des Marais (FR) 2-1 (11-0) Held up, closer order 4th to track leading pair, mistakes 11th and 12th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 32l behind Greenbridge (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Mar.
Aldiruos (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, some headway after 7th, soon dropped rear, no impression after, 7th of 11, 20l behind Tisfreetdream (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Picot de Say 14-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, pulled up after 2nd, saddle slipped, in a race won by First Point (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Olmeto Collonges (FR) 22-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, reminders 4th, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 14, 24l behind Boulders Beach (10-7) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Mujamead 33-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, 11th of 13, 40l behind Young Albert (11-3) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Acapulco Bay 33-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, 9th of 17, 35l behind Picture This (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Billie Magern 25-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan, 19 ran.
Farmers Cross (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Held up, headway after 7th, running on well, shaken up to lead approaching last, ran on, won at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr beating Wardington Lad (11-0) by 6l, 18 ran.
Naughty By Nature 15-2 (11-4) Raced keenly tracking winner until approaching 6th, 2nd again 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Sir Ian (11-7) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Monn Royal (FR) 17-2 (10-11) Pulled hard, with leaders, pulled up 2nd, in a race won by Darstardly Dick (11-9) at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (0-120) (3) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Ship's Hill (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) In touch, chased leaders after 3 out, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Viper (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Signalman 33-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, last of 8, well behind Alfie Flits (11-11) at Haydock 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Jan.
Colline de Fleurs 8-1 (10-7) Prominent, led after 3rd until 5th, chased leaders, hit 12th, jumped left next, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Double Dizzy (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chase (4) hvy in Mar '08, 6 ran.
Quatro Pierji (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked clear leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on until no extra near finish, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Agglestone Rock (10-7) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
