Verdict

Festival King is consistent enough which is why the handicapper has been unable to release his grip and he still looks high in the weights. Archie's Wish needs a stamina test as shown when scoring over 3m3f at Sedgefield in September, but The Brig At Ayr ran really well here last March before unshipping his rider at Towcester and has scope to make progress. John Quinn takes the unusual step of introducing NOT TALKING to fences in a handicap and his bold move can pay off as the lightly-raced eight-year-old looked likely to be suited to them when landing a handicap over timber at Newcastle and finishing runner-up to The Hudnalls at Hereford.

Formwatch

Winged Farasi 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 7th to chase leaders, ridden and kept on same pace from last, 6th of 16, 7l behind Sambelucky (9-11) at Catterick 2m 3f am hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.

Lady De La Vega (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Prominent, mistakes, chased winner from 12th until after 3 out, 3rd and beaten last, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Justabout (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.

Festival King (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, hit 2 out, headed soon after, no chance with winner approaching last, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Isla Pearl Fisher (10-3) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.

Bardolet (IRE) 4-1fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, blundered 8th, headway after 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 11th of 15, 37l behind Too Cool To Fool (11-3) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.

Iris's Flyer 8-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 5 out, weakened next, 6th of 8, 42l behind Do It For Dalkey (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.

Archie's Wish 5-2fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, hit 1st, chased winner after 10th until approachiong 3 out, no extra from next, 3rd of 6, 11l behind You Know Yourself (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.

Allanard (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened last, 7th of 15, 13l behind Too Cool To Fool (11-3) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.

Nicky Tam (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 11, 22l behind Onthegoagain (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f stks (5) gd in Oct '09.

Dareios (GER) 40-1 (10-7) Mid-division, droped to rear and reminders 3rd, tailed off 5th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Eastwell Smiles (11-3) at Warwick 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec, 12 ran.

Not Talking (IRE) 6-4fav (10-5) Tracked leaders on inside, led after 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 7, 2l behind The Hudnalls (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.

The Brig At Ayr 7-1 (10-0) In touch when stumbled and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Basoda (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Apr, 13 ran.