Looking Back 70) Contraband

                      Contraband

Contraband was a 1998 born gelding by Red Ransom and his dam was called Shortfall.  He began life on the flat in the care of William Haggas  He had one run for experience as a two year old but developed into a pretty useful performer on the level as a three and four year old.  His first victory came on his fourth start in June 2001 at Musselburgh.  He won over 1m1f with Darryl Holland riding.  He won the following month at Ascot very easily over 1m4f with Johnny Murtagh in the saddle on this occasion.  He was then absent from the race track for over a year, returning to action in August 2002.  It took him a couple of runs to find his form again but won on his third start back at York with Kieran Fallon riding.

He then had another absence and returned to action in the Ebor at York in August 2003.  He ran well to finish fifth, only beaten four lengths off a mark of 93.  He finished third at Newmarket on his final start for William Haggas before he went to Newmarket sales in October.  MCP bought him for 64,000 guineas for owner David Johnson.

He made his hurdling debut at Cheltenham the following month and finished third and got his first win just 13 days later at Taunton scoring comfortably with A P McCoy in the saddle.  He went on to win his next two starts as well, winning novice hurdles at Musselburgh and Kempton.  He finished second at Ascot in January 2004 before finishing down the field in the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury the following month.  He was not at his best and finished towards the rear in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival but bounced back to form to be a very close second at Aintree in the Grade 2 novices hurdle, beaten a neck by Royal Shakespeare.  He finished off an excellent debut season over hurdles by winning again at Cheltenham’s April meeting.

He then went on his summer holidays and returned to embark on a novice chase campaign.  He finished second on his first two starts at Aintree and Cheltenham but got his first win over the larger obstacles in the Henry VIII novices chase at Sandown, Grade 2, in December 2004.  He put in an excellent round of jumping and beat The Last Cast by five lengths.  He then went on to finish third at Uttoxeter before lining up in the Arkle chase at the 2005 Cheltenham Festival.  He was sent off 7/1 with Timmy Murphy on board.  Held up in rear he made steady progress before having a slight lead at the last and being driven out on the run in to beat Ashley Brook by one length.  He disappointed at Aintree after this but finished his season off with a third place behind stablemate Well Chief at Sandown on the final day of the 2004/05 jumps season. 

After a summer break he returned to action in November 2005 but he only managed two outings this season due to a few injury niggles.  He finished fifth behind Monkerhostin in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November 2005 and was not seen again until the final day of the season at Sandown once again where he ran a cracker to finish a close third, only beaten three lengths in the Celebration chase by River City.

It was then time to go out to grass once again and his first run back was in a Graduation chase at Kempton in November 2006.  He finished a three length second to Sporazene but things did not quite go to plan in two subsequent outings and David Johnson thought he might benefit from a change of scenery and he moved to pastures new.  He never did quite re-capture his form of old and did not manage to add to his career tally of wins again after leaving Pond House. 

I remember Contraband from my own early days at Pond House.  He was a character who was not the easiest of rides at home; he was pretty keen and liked to get on with things although he was a gentleman in the stable!  He was however extremely talented and it was brilliant he got his day in the spotlight winning at the Cheltenham Festival in 2005.  He won nine races from 41 career starts and he was placed thirteen times as well.  Rated 153 at best he won over £235,000 in prize money.