chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, switched right approaching last, led flat, readily
chased leader, slow 3rd, led 5th, soon headed, pushed along 7th, lost 2nd before 2 out, soon beaten, mistake last, lost 3rd flat
in rear, not fluent 1st, outpaced from 6th, no impression, went 3rd flat
led until slow 5th, soon led again, ridden approaching last, headed flat, held towards finish
Only four runners but an intriguing contest. Getaway Trump would have been the best of these over hurdles but was never really travelling when an expensive failure at Fontwell on his chasing bow. Zoffee gets a handy weight-for-age allowance and had a pipe-opener on the Flat last month. Trincomalee has always looked a chasing type but his victory over hurdles at Warwick last season came over 2m5f. Heavy ground was a legitimate excuse for GOLDEN TAIPAN on his final start last season. He won a maiden hurdle here last year and was a good jumper of the smaller obstacles so gets a tentative vote representing a stable that can do little wrong at present.
Getaway Trump (IRE) 3-10fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, switched right and pressing winner 3 out, ridden and beaten from next, lost 2nd towards finish, last of 3, 6l behind Ga Law (10-3) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) gd in Sep.
Golden Taipan (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leading pair, pushed along on long run after 3 out, soon weakened, behind and pulled up before 2 out, at Sandown 2m (3) hvy in Feb.
Trincomalee 2-1 (11-7) Chased leader, not always fluent, ridden after 3 out, beaten before 2 out, 4th of 13, 19l behind Hooligan (11-1) at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Zoffee 5-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders until led 10f out, kept on well until headed 1f out, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Zeeband (9-0) at Thirsk 1m 6f hcp (3) gs in Sep.
