in touch, hit 11th, weakened approaching 13th, pulled up before 4 out,
held up in rear, soon tailed off, pulled up before 9th
led to 2nd, led again 4th, headed 9th, outpaced next, ridden after 5 out, chased winner last, no impression
tracked leader, unseated rider 2nd
led from 2nd, headed 4th, blundered 7th, led again 9th, mistake 5 out, headed next, weakened 3 out
in touch, reminders after 8th, led 4 out, stayed on well approaching last
tracked leaders, joined leader 11th, ridden next, weakened last
always towards rear, soon tailed off
Double Default is taken to make a winning debut over fences but faces some stiff opposition here with Top Cloud and Hockenheim perhaps the two to fear most. There's a chance that Hockenheim may just need this run but he'll relish these conditions and showed progressive form over hurdles. Top Cloud is well regarded by his trainer and is slowly getting his act together over fences. This is the first time that he's tackled three miles over fences, staying is his game and a big run is expected. Allistathebarrista must also be feared following an encouraging performance at Bangor but Double Default may be able to overcome his inexperience. Two narrow defeats over hurdles came at the hands of the smart Chief Dan George before he set the record straight with two relatively straightforward successes. He has always been regarded as a chaser in the making, is sure to have been well schooled and Double Default makes plenty of appeal.
Aitch Doubleyou (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) Chased leaders until outpaced 10th, 7th of 12, 31l behind The Gleaner (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec.
Allborn Lad (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Lost tch 14; wl bhnd when fell in race won by Itsalf (12-0) at Ballarat 3m ptp frm in Jun, 6 ran.
Allistathebarrista (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Held up in touch, lost place approaching 10th, stayed on from 2 out, nearest finish, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Killard Point (11-6) at Bangor 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Dec.
Double Default (IRE) 1-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 6th, ridden 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Hexham 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr beating Jack The Blaster (11-5) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Hockenheim (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, hit 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Flight Leader (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec '06, 8 ran.
Minster Shadow 7-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, outpaced 4 out, no impression from next, 5th of 14, 21l behind Albany (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Top Cloud (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed 11th, every chance 4 out, stayed on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 5l behind The Gleaner (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec.
Witch Wind 11-1 (11-2) In touch, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Rathowen (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
