took keen hold early, jumped left from halfway, held up, tracked winner 6th, reminders 8th and next, ridden to challenge and chance when mistake 2 out, driven and held between last 2
chased winner 3rd to 6th, handy, outpaced 8th, lost poor 3rd 4 out, tailed off
chased winner to 3rd, close up until outpaced 8th, went poor 3rd next
jumped left, made all, joined 2 out, in command between last 2, ridden out
In what effectively looks to be a two horse race, Contraband is taken to get the better of Sporazene. Although Gypsy Cricketer and Salhood are experienced over the bigger obstacles and have shown some reasonable form, they may be outclassed here. Sporazene won on his chasing debut at Exeter two years ago but has not won since, failing to complete on three occasions when he fell. That wayward record saw him revert to hurdles without success and he is opposed here. Contraband won the Arkle last year but like Sporazene, has no recent winning form to his credit. He raced only twice last season, finishing up with a close third behind River City in a hot contest. A reproduction of that effort may well be good enough here, perhaps en route to a busier, more successful campaign. Contraband can take this.
Contraband 5-2 (11-6) Settled 4th, jumped slow 5th, left 3rd at next, ridden approaching 2 out, driven and not quicken between last 2, 3rd of 4, 3l behind River City (11-6) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr.
Gipsy Cricketer 5-2jt-fav (10-7) Chase winner, ridden approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Syroco (11-9) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Salhood 7-4jt-fav (11-9) In touch, blundered 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Extra Smooth (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) sft in Oct, 5 ran.
Sporazene (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Always behind, no chance when hampered 2 out, 21st of 29, 19l behind Desert Quest (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
