Racecards
15:45 Ascot
Queen Mother Memorial Fund Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Heavy
Contraband
36- Form 3111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on,no chance with winner
- Form 31
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, one pace
Alsyati
21- Form 00
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey A Scholes
in touch until 5th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Dictum (GER)
23- Form 2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs Susan Nock
- Jockey J Culloty
always going well, tracked leaders, led on bit approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily
Felixrdotcom
679- Form 65P42/
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey James Davies
in touch until 6th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Fenix (GER)
23- Form 4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey L P Aspell
in touch, headway 6th, blundered 3 out, soon ridden, one pace
- Form 355
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
in touch, lost place from 5th, stayed on from 3 out, never troubled leaders
- Form 66-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up, pecked 1st, behind from 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 0-P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J Old
- Jockey Paul Moloney
behind from 5th, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
Scorned (GER)
777- Form 2/
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey B Fenton
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened
Verdict
Some interesting runners line up here including the two ex-South African runners Grande Jete and Golden Reward, plus the former German-trained Dictum but for the selection we stick closer to home and the former William Haggas inmate Contraband. The selection has looked a progressive performer since an encouraging debut third behind Self Defense at Cheltenham with wins at Taunton, Musselburgh and Kempton. Admittedly Martin Pipe's gelding has a double penalty to carry but there is no reason to suggest that he is not up to the task of shouldering it. The Paul Nicholls-trained Goblet Of Fire was rated to a similar level of ability to the selection on the flat but has yet to convince over hurdles so a bigger threat may come from Nicky Henderson's Grande Jete, who won with the minimum of fuss at Wincanton on Boxing Day and may be open to more improvement. A similar comment applies to Susan Nock's Dictum, although the form of her second to Howle Hill has taken some knocks. Scorned has been off the track for a long time but cannot be completely dismissed, however, it is Contraband that makes most appeal and gets the vote.