led, headed 6th, led again 8th, headed 11th, ridden and weakened after 4 out
always behind, well beaten when hit 2 out
mid-divsion and pushed along, headway 12th, ridden chased winner approaching 2 out, one pace flat
held up in touch, hit 6th, chased winner approaching 3 out, one pace and lost 2nd flat
chased leaders, led 6th to 8th, led again 11th, headed 13th, close up when badly stumbled 5 out and pulled up
chased leader, led 13th, ridden approaching last, kept on well flat
held up in touch, headway after 4 out, hit next, soon weakened
A slightly disappointing turnout for this novice chase and Contraband is taken to get the better of Town Crier and Raw Silk. The Martin Pipe-trained selection has shown a very good level of form over fences so far, not least on his latest start when beaten eight lengths by the impressive Fundamentalist at Cheltenham. This represents a drop in grade and he looks to hold a leading chance. Town Crier has done pretty well over fences, beating Kadount at Wetherby and then finishing second to Chauvinist at Aintree, while Jack Martin has had only one, inauspicious run over fences although he won over hurdles from a mark of 103. Raw Silk finished second to the well-regarded Vista Verde at Leicester last time and the form is solid enough although Contraband sets the benchmark in that respect and looks the one they all have to beat.
