held up in rear, not fluent 11th, headway to chase leaders 3 out, switched right to challenge and ridden before last, ran on well to lead final 100yds
raced keenly, chased leaders, weakened before 3 out
raced a bit keenly, held up in touch, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, hit 3 out, jumped left next, no extra approaching last
disputed lead, led 6th, headed 10th, ridden 4 out, no extra from next
disputed lead, headed 6th, jumped right 11th, hit next, soon pushed along, faded before 2 out
chased leaders, led 10th, ridden approaching last, kept on gamely until headed final 100yds
Oscar Wilde folded tamely on the run to the last when well supported at Sedgefield last week but does have more scope than the majority of these, including last month’s Kempton third Nightfly. PRUDHOMME never got competitive on his chasing bow at Wincanton but wasn’t disgraced and that will have taught him plenty – the step up in distance is an obvious plus. None of the others can be completely ruled out in a difficult race to decipher.
Prudhomme (FR) 12-1 (10-10) In rear, mistake 1st, hit 2nd, awkward 3rd and 4th, steady headway when not fluent 4 out, mistake 3 out and ridden, lost ground before 2 out, no extra from last, 6th of 9, 8 1/2l behind Tamaroc Du Mathan (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Nightfly 8-1 (11-3) Tracked winner until 2nd, tracked leaders, left 2nd at 5 out, ridden 3 out, weakened next, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 6, 20 3/4l behind Oscar Rose (11-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Casa Tall (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, blundered 2nd, minor headway 5 out, not fluent 4 out, no impression, 6th of 9, 30l behind Eclair D'Ainay (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Full Trottle (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Mistake 1st, held up, never on terms, 8th of 10, 29 1/2l behind Not A Role Model (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Oscar Wilde (IRE) 6-4fav (11-5) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened quickly approaching last, 3rd of 7, 27 1/4l behind Manwell (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Peur De Rien (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders out wide, led 5th until before 9th, chased winner until mistake and lost 2nd 14th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out, at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.