MARTIN PIPE-trained Montreal (3-1 favourite) ridden by Timmy Murphy, lifted the £30,000 Tennent's Velvet City Of Perth Gold Cup Chase in front of a 9,000-strong crowd on Sunday 6 June.

Montreal, in the colours of Britain's champion jumps owner David Johnson, beat Irish raider Glynn Dingle (9-1) by three-quarters of a length.

"He travelled very well for me. I led at the final fence and the finishing line arrived in time," said 29-year-old Murphy.

Ratty's Band (25-1) won the Famous Grouse Handicap Chase and Trisons Star (2-5 favourite) romped to victory in the Famous Grouse bumper to seal two winners for Lucy Normile's Glenfarg stable at Scone.

Slad trainer Tom George is enjoying a memorable 2004 Perth season and saddled Galileo (9-4) and Tulipa (7-2) to win for Sharon and Philip Nelson.

County Kildare trainer John Carr and Philip Carberry gained two victories at the two-day fixture for Dublin owner Jimmy Stanley, Verchoyles Lad (11-8 favourite) and She's My Girl (9-2).

Nicky Richards saddled Glinger (9-2) to win the Langvale Homes Handicap Chase and Prince Among Men (7-2), winner of the totesport Handicap Hurdle, both ridden by Perth's leading jockey Tony Dobbin and Jim Goldie's seven-year-old mare Gargoyle Girl (6-1) scored for Symington Owner Christine Brown.

Peter Niven, who rode 1,002 winners in his distinquished career, saddled his first Perth winner, Liberty Seeker (7-2), ridden by Graham Lee, in the colours of Glasgow owner Matt Sawers.

"It's great to get my first winner at Perth and I certainly rode plenty of winners here," said 39-year-old Niven.

Mr Sawers said: "I've had a bet of £12,000-£3,000 on the winner so I'm delighted."