tracked leader, hard driven to challenge before 3 out, soon under pressure, stayed on well closing stages
chased leaders, slow 2nd, outpaced 3 out, mistake next, kept on well after last, never able to challenge
chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, behind next
tracked leaders, keen, effort 3 out, weakened next
held up, in touch, mistake 3rd, effort 3 out, weakened before last
made all, 8 lengths clear after 3 out, mistake last, driven out
Trapper Peak won over a shorter trip at Fakenham just under two weeks ago and Alex Dunn also runs Maid Of Tuscany, a winner on the Flat at Catterick earlier this month. Both have decent claims while Destiny's Gold would have every chance on his form in the summer which included a victory at Worcester. AGINCOURT REEF returned to hurdling with a fair fourth at Exeter so it's a bit of a surprise to see him dropped into a seller for the first time. He has every chance of a first win over the smaller obstacles since 2013 on these terms whereas Moulin Rouge and Avel Vor have a mountain to climb at the weights.
Destiny's Gold (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 29 3/4l behind Throthethatch (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Agincourt Reef (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden when not fluent next, kept on same pace from 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 8, 9l behind Thomas Blossom (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Avel Vor (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Close up, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 8, 18 1/2l behind Trapper Peak (11-7) at Fakenham 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Trapper Peak (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, pressed leader 3 out, hit next, led bend approaching last, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Osgood (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
Maid Of Tuscany (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Held up, towards rear, headway tracking leaders 10f out, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened well over 2f out, 10th of 13, 30 1/2l behind Alfredo (10-0) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Moulin Rouge (DEN) 5-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, chased leader 3 out, effort on outside before next, one pace in 3rd before last, stayed on to regain 2nd near finish, no impression with winner, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Khismet (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Oct.