disputed 2nd, headway to join leader 2 out, led last, ridden clear flat, comfortably
led, hit 7th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed last, no chance with winner flat
disputed 2nd until mistake and unseated rider 9th
held up 4th and last, left 3rd 9th, 4 lengths down and pushed along when lost action and pulled up after 3 out
Lucy Wadham's EL DANCER was not disgraced when a close up fifth behind Sir Harry Ormesher at Aintree last week and he looks worth siding with on his favoured good ground to resume winning ways here with the main dangers rated as Kennel Hill and Gala Evening. Jim Old's gelding has his first outing over hurdles since April 2009 but he has been running well on the flat of late and has to be respected on his belated return to hurdles. Paul Webber's De Soto has failed to complete in his last two outings and is hard to recommend with a bigger threat likely to come from Kennel Hill. Keith Goldsworthy's gelding was not disgraced in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last week and he has every chance under similar ground conditions today but a better bet looks to be El Dancer, who can build on a promising effort at Aintree last week.
El Dancer (GER) 25-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway after 2 out, stayed on flat, nearest finish, 5th of 22, 4 1/2l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f listed hcp hdl (1) gd.
De Soto 20-1 (11-8) With leader until led 3rd, headed 5th, close 2nd until after 9th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Quinz (10-10) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar, 13 ran.
Gala Evening 11-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, not reach leaders, 4th of 24, 3 1/2l behind Made In Japan (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr '09.
Kennel Hill (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) In rear, ridden and detached approaching 9th, ran on flat, never nearer, 6th of 14, 18l behind Wayward Prince (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd.
