1988

The English-trained Sprowston Boy started 7 to 2 favourite but finished last of the 15 runners. Roark who was heavily backed from 8 to 1 to 5 to 1 beat Shannon Spray by three lengths under jockey Tom Taaffe and continued Arthur Moore's spectacular run of of Sweeps Hurdle-Ladbroke Hurdle success.

1989

Another English-trained favourite in Kingsmill (7 to 1) who raced prominently to the straight but weakened to finish third behind the surprise 16 to 1 winner Redundnat Pal. Redundnat Pal's victory was the pinnacle of journeyman jockey Peter Kavangh's career.

1990

Redundant Pal wins again but this time at 20 to 1. Fragrant Dawn was a warm 4 to 1 favourite but yet again the English invaders had no joy as Conor O'Dwyer timed the enigmatic Redundant Pal's challenge to perfection and beat Dis Train by half a length.

1991

The Illiad lands an ante-post gamble for the Noel Furlong stable, easily beating the outsider Bawnmore Lad at 7 to 1. The dreadful run of English-trained favourites continued with Wonder Man (3 to 1) never recovering from a mistake at the second last and trailing in sixth.

1992

How's The Boss, trained in Co Clare by John Brassil, breezes home at 20 to 1 to become one of Jason Titley's first big race winners. Martin Pipe's Balasani proves a weak favourite in the market, drifting from 4 to 1 to 11 to 2 and was never seen with a chance, eventually finishing third last.

1993

Glencloud finishes fast and late to continue the punters misery, winning at 20 to 1 for Noel Meade and Gerry O'Neill. Charlie Swan's Ladbroke disappointments begin with Eyelid (6 to 1) failing to quicken from the last and finishing fifth in a finish of short heads and necks.

1994

Atone, third in 1993, is an impressive winner in very soft ground beating Arctic Weather, who tries again today, by four and a half lengths at 10 to 1. Cross-channel misery continues with the gambled on Satin Lover (8 to 1 to 9 to 2) holding every chance at the second last but weakening to finish 15th of the 25.

1995

Anusha gives Shane Broderick one of his greatest successes when silencing the crowd with a 25 to 1 shocker. In hindsight Cockney Lad looked some kind of certainty when racing off only 10st 1lb but could only manage third after starting the 9 to 4 favourite.

1996

The ill-fated Dance Beat (12 to 1) gives veteran jockey Anthony Powell a Ladbroke to add to an earlier Sweeps Hurdle, staying on well to beat the 6 to 1 favourite Family Way by a length. Family Way finished to some effect after a less than clear passage through the race but not well enough for the punters.

1997

Because of a dispute between the bookmakers and the IHA, no starting prices were returned on this race but if there had been, Master Tribe would have had a long quote to end the English Ladbroke famine. Despite being a 26 to 1 shot with the Tote, he emulated Barnbrook Again by holding off Black Queen by a head. The ante-post favourite, Khayrawani, only manages sixth.