Tough test for Sporazene

Paul Nicholls admits Sporazene is facing an uphill task in tomorrow’s totescoop6 Summer Hurdle Handicap at Market Rasen.

The nine-year-old ended a lengthy losing run when scoring under 7lb-claimer Harry Skelton at Newton Abbot last month.

However, the handicapper has pushed Sporazene back up the ratings and racing off top weight of 11st 12lb tomorrow, Nicholls admits the grey will have a lot to do.

“Sporazene won well last time but he’s gone up 11lb for that win,” he said.

“We were claiming off him that day too and he struggled to win off his previous mark so it looks a pretty stiff test for him tomorrow.”

Sporazene has been campaigned over fences and hurdles in recent seasons, but his last win over the smaller obstacles had come in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2004 before he hit the target at Newton Abbot.

“It was his first win over hurdles in four years and the rise looks very harsh but we will see. The handicapper could be right and I could be wrong,” Nicholls added.

Sporazene is one of 17 runners in the Listed event over two miles and a furlong.

Advancement is seeking a four-timer, while Philip Hobbs’ Bureaucrat bids to follow up a victory on the level at the Derby meeting.