prominent, every chance approaching and hung left 2 out, not fluent last, kept on same pace
keen, led, headed approaching 2 out, short of room soon after, no extra closing stages
held up in rear, beaten when mistake 3 out
in touch, under pressure 3 out, weakened after next
always in rear, tailed off 3 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, outpaced next, stayed on into 4th, never a threat
tracked leader, led before 2 out, not fluent last, ran on strongly
behind, slow 4 out, tailed off next
mid-division, took closer order 5 out, chased leaders next, fell 2 out
NonRunner
COLLEGE OAK won a bumper at Sedgefield last month. From the family of the high-class Best Mate, Jamie Snowden’s charge is taken to make a winning start over hurdles in this company. Stolen Silver was less than fluent at Cheltenham on his hurdling bow and unseated at the last while Karannelle won a maiden hurdle in Ireland earlier in the year but failed to complete on her first start for new connections. Desque De L'Isle went close over timber in France back in 2016 but was well beaten on a recent debut for Venetia Williams’ yard on his first start after wind surgery.
College Oak 15-8fav (10-12) Made all, clear well over 1f out, driven out, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f (5) sft in Oct beating Lex Eleven (10-5) by 2l, 8 ran.
Desque De L'Isle (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Led, headed 3 out, ridden after next, soon lost place, weakened before last, 7th of 13, 19 1/4l behind Silver Hallmark (11-5) at Chepstow 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Finvarra (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Behind, plugged on after 2 out, never a threat, 5th of 13, 32 1/4l behind Scardura (10-12) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Flutiste (FR) 80-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 3 out, 7th of 13, 30 1/4l behind Wild Max (11-0) at Taunton 2m mdn (5) gd in Nov.
Lermoos Legend 4-1 (10-10) Tracked leader, keen, led after 2f, hung badly right from halfway, headed over 4f out, quickly weakened over 2f out, soon eased, modest 4th, 4th of 5, dist behind Dazibao (11-5) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Jul.
Marengo 16-1 (9-3) Always behind, 7th of 13, 18 3/4l behind Well Funded (8-11) at Chester 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Stolen Silver (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Held up behind, pushed along after 3 out, headway under pressure on inside between last 2, no impression in 6th when jinked and unseated rider last, at Cheltenham 2m mdn (3) gs in Oct.
Witchdoctor 40-1 (10-10) Not fluent 1st, soon mid-division on outside, not fluent and struggling 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in Jun.
Karannelle (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Mid-division on inside, hampered 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Fiscal Space (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Red Rising (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.