with leader, led 5th, stumbled 11th, hard pressed 4 out, ridden 2 out, 1 length clear last, tired flat, headed and no extra final strides
held up 5th and last in touch, left 4th at 10th, ridden 5 out, went moderate 3rd next, soon no chance with leading pair and weakened, lost 3rd 2 out, tailed off
disputed 3rd, hit 5th, reminders 9th, 4th and in touch when fell next
tracked leading pair, went 2nd when blundered 12th, challenged 4 out, ridden 2 out, outpaced when switched right between last 2, 1 length down last, rallied flat, led final strides
made most to 5th, with leader and soon pushed along, lost 2nd when mistake 12th, lost moderate 3rd 4 out, plugged on to regain 3rd 2 out, no chance with front pair
FESTIVAL KING was headed close home over hurdles at Musselburgh last time but had previously put in a good display of jumping over these fences to beat Lahib The Fifth. He's fancied to return to winning ways back over the larger obstacles with trainer Pauline Robson's terrific strike rate at this track another plus. Double Default has yet to win over fences but produced his best effort yet when runner-up at Carlisle last month, while there may be more to come from Sedgefield winner Euro American stepping up in trip. Panzer was already beaten when falling at Towcester last time and Sammy Spiderman and Skenfrith have plenty to find.
Double Default (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Led, joined from 4 out, ridden before next, no extra and headed run-in, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Work Boy (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Euro American (GER) 5-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, pushed along approaching 4th, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, kept on same pace from next, weakened last, 6th of 7, 13l behind Willie Hall (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Panzer (GER) 3-1 (10-12) Held up in touch on inside, mistake 8th, reminder 11th, chased leaders on outside when left 3rd 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, hard pressed for well beaten 3rd when fell last, in a race won by Tarabela (10-2) at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb, 6 ran.
Sammy Spiderman 3-1fav (10-2) Held up towards rear, ridden before 5 out, headway 4 out, chased winner last, always well held, lost 2nd when no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Lampion Du Bost (11-4) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Skenfrith 13-2 (10-8) Chased winner, pushed along after 8th, soon lost place, 4th of 7, well behind Garleton (11-4) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb.
Festival King (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Led, hit 2 out, ridden approaching and challenged last, soon headed, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Vallani (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
