One expected to make final tried running round Oval? (6)
I believe the answer is:
editor
'one expected to make final' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'tried running round oval?' is the wordplay.
'running' indicates an anagram (the letters run around to different places).
'round' is an insertion indicator.
'oval?' becomes 'O'.
'tried' anagrammed gives 'editr'.
'editr' placed around 'o' is 'EDITOR'.
(Other definitions for editor that I've seen before include "One who revises another's writing" , "Magazine head" , "Head of a newspaper say" , "one to give some publicity?" , "One is in charge of publication" .)