held up in last pair, steady headway 4 out, 2nd going well enough before 2 out, ridden before last, one pace and no chance with winner but kept on for clear 2nd
never fluent, tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, struggling in rear before next
tracked leaders, driven along and weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders on inside, 3rd briefly before 3 out, weakened 2 out
tracked winner until pushed along before 2 out, chased leading pair, ridden and one pace between last two, went right and stumbled last
made all, ridden clear run-in, kept on strongly, eased towards finish, unchallenged
never fluent, in rear, outpaced 3rd, plugged on past beaten horses into modest 4th before the last
It took a while for Colla Pier to break her duck over timber but she's won valuable handicaps at Fairyhouse and Punchestown this autumn and was second in a Grade 3 at Down Royal in between. However, off level terms, Patrick Mooney's mare may struggle to cope with TEA IN TRANSVAAL, who has also been much improved recently. Though her winning run came to an end behind Devilment at Cheltenham last month, she wasn't beaten far and her overall form looks the best on offer. Hope's Wishes steps up in grade after victories at Stratford and Wincanton but is also on an upward curve while there should be more to come from Towcester scorer Ruby Rambler.
Colla Pier (IRE) 13-2 (9-11) Rear of mid-division, 6th halfway, dropped to 9th 3 out, headway to 6th 2 out, travelled well to lead at last where jumped right,kept on well, driven out, won at Punchestown 2m hcp sft in Nov beating Wes Hardin (10-7) by 3 3/4l, 12 ran.
Fortunata Fashions 33-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, challenged after 6th until before 3 out where mistake, 3rd and no extra next, 3rd of 14, 29l behind Yala Enki (10-12) at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gs in Nov.
Hope's Wishes 11-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, soon challenging, upsides last, led run-in, kept on well, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Columbanus (10-0) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Lady Persephone (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, stayed on flat, no impression on leaders, closing on 3rd close home, 4th of 14, 12 1/2l behind Out Of The Mist (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Ruby Rambler 5-1 (11-0) Made all, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Towcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Nov beating Happy Diva (11-0) by 5l, 16 ran.
Tea In Transvaal (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Led, headed after 2 out, ridden and no extra run-in, 5th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Devilment (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Very Extravagant (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up, 8th early, 6th halfway, pushed along briefly from 5f out, under pressure 3f out, challenged and on terms towards outer 2f out, narrowly headed and jumped road 1f out, kept on well, not quite match winner inside final furlong,, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Coffee Cantata (11-9) at Tramore 2m Yielding in May.