keen, tracked winner, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
made all, ridden and hit last, driven out
held up well off the pace, some late headway, never near leaders
raced wide, held up, weakened before omitted 3 out
in touch, ridden and weakened 2 out
close up when hit 2nd and unseated rider
in touch, ridden and weakened by omitted 3 out
towards rear, some headway omitted 3 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
held up in rear and well off the pace, wide and headway approaching 2 out, never nearer
in touch, headway by omitted 3 out, kept on to go remote 4th
close up, ridden by omitted 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden 2 out, never nearer
always towards rear
held up, ridden 4 out, never on terms
always towards rear
close up, ridden 2 out, weakened next
COLONEL CUSTARD found life tough in the Grade 2 Supreme Novices' trial at Cheltenham last time but had won nicely at Newton Abbot on his earlier debut over timber. He beat three subsequent winners on that occasion and is taken to defy a penalty in this. The Some Dance Kid hails from last year's winning yard and also carries a penalty having landed a maiden hurdle over track and trip last month with Rapper back in sixth while Irish point-to-point runner-up Falco Blitz should be noted representing Nicky Henderson's powerful yard. Bumper winner Grey Diamond has yet to figure over hurdles while Chambard won a couple of bumpers in France in 2016 but showed little on a recent hurdling bow when debuting for new connections.
Colonel Custard (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked winner, pushed along 2 out (usual 3 out), lost place last (usual 2 out), soon weakened, last of 5, 22 1/4l behind Elixir De Nutz (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov.
The Some Dance Kid (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Made all, ridden and pressed from 2 out, stayed on strongly flat, won at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Nov beating Flash The Steel (11-0) by 2l, 13 ran.
Arctic Road 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 10th of 11, 22 1/4l behind Champagne Platinum (11-0) at Newcastle 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Avantgardist (GER) 50-1 (9-5) Chased leaders in 3rd, closed 4f out, led over 2f out until inside final 2f, chased leader until inside final furlong, kept on same pace in 3rd, 5th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Crindle Carr (8-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (6) pol in Jun.
Capmonfor (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, mistake 3rd, not fluent and well behind 5th, 7th of 11, 37 3/4l behind Lord Of The Rock (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Chambard (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakening when went right 6th,went right again and mistake next, tailed off, 9th of 13, dist behind Anytime Will Do (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) gd in Oct.
Cross Of Steel (IRE) 150-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, soon lost place, beaten 3 out, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Informateur (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov.
Discko Des Plages (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2, 12th of 20, 23 1/2l behind Bright Forecast (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (3) sft in Nov.
Falco Blitz (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Mid-div, 5th 1/2way & 5out, clsr 3out & chall disp 2out, ev ch 2nd last, kow, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Port Stanley (11-11) at Portrush 3m mdn gs in May.
Grey Diamond (FR) 2-1 (10-12) Held up well off the pace in rear, pushed along 2 out, beaten when flattened last, 5th of 9, 17 1/4l behind First Figaro (10-12) at Hereford 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Passing Oceans 100-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, jumped left 1st, beaten 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Deise Aba (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (5) sft in Nov.
Rapper 18-1 (11-0) Close up, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 13, 9 1/2l behind The Some Dance Kid (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Nov.
Sam Chisolm (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Prominent, weakened before 4 out, 15th of 17, dist behind Nestor Park (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Tim Rocco (GER) 33-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, weakened, 7th of 9, 24 1/4l behind First Figaro (10-12) at Hereford 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Blue Ballerina (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, tailed off, 13th of 16, dist behind Definitelyanoscar (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Incertaine 100-1 (10-12) In rear, not fluent 2nd, never dangerous, 9th of 16, 26 3/4l behind Definitelyanoscar (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Infiniti (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Mistakes in rear, well beaten from 4 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Kimberley Point (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) gd in Nov.
Rollercoster (IRE) 5-2 (11-11) Tr ldr in 2nd, disp frm 7th, ld bef 3out, 8l adv 2out, 15l adv & rddn bef last, ko, won at Liscarroll 3m mdn sft in Mar beating Vivalino (11-11) by dist, 9 ran.
