WOODVILLE WORK

COUBTCBAFT GALLOPS MILE BY FRANCIS DRAKE HAZOOR SCHOOLS CLEVERLY [from ouh own correspondent] WOODVILLE, Wednesday Among the interesting trials at Woddville yesterday were those of Courtcraft, Francis Drake and Aiwai. Jhe course proper, with the trestles out 12 ieet, was open and the going was /good. Courtcraft was .ridden over six furlongs by X. Cavaney, and Mr. W. H. Gaisford was present. Beginning short of the barrier, Courtcraft was soon into his stride. Ho ran the first quarter in 25 2-5s and three in 37 4-ss, and he maintained an even pace to complete in 1.15 3-5. Ho went smoothly throughout and pulled up fresh. Sports Coat (31, Gilmore) who is improving all the time, ran three furlongs in 37 2-os. Aiwai (Cavaney) sprinted six furlongs in 1.17, taking 1.4 2-5 for the last five and 39s for the last three. Francis Drake (Cavaney), who is in good trim for the Wanganui Clip, was galloped a mile. The first three furlongs took 395, four 52 l-ss, five 1.5 2-5 and ho finished resolutely in 1.44 2-5. Cavaney will ride him. Royal Tinge (Cavaney) sprinted balf-a-mile in 525. The change of quarters appears to have done him no harm. Among the horses out doing pace work were Given and Hazoor, the latter on the .lead; Mala, in blinkers; Son and Heir and Golden Ridge. Hazoor has been in B. McKay's charge for some time and three times he has been schooled and, without a companion, proved himself a brilliant jumper. GRAND NATIONAL AINTREE PROSPECTS SIX EARLY SELECTIONS ROYAL MAIL PRIME FANCY The 1938 Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree, Liverpool, is only a month away, the da+o of the event being March 25, and already there has been a good deal of discussion in England concerning the prospects of the most noteworthy candidates. Royal Mail, who won last year from six others who completed the course, has been given top weight, 12.7, entailing a rise of 81b. This is not by any means a severe impost, especially when viewed from the point of view of the horses who finished nearest to him last March. Royal Mail is now aged nine years. While his arrival at the post for the Grand National was regarded as a triumph of training for I. Anthony, because of the delicate constitution of his candidate, he is believed, on his general appearance, to have become nmch stronger constitutionally. In any case,. ' when a "delicate" horse wins such a race as the Grand National he must be endowed with superlative racing qualities. Runner-up Last Year Latest comment on National Hunt racing to hand pays a compliment to Cooleen, who a year ago was second, three lengths behind the winner, under | an impost of 11.4. Cooleen now has 11.8, so that she has been given a concession of only 41b. from Royal Mail. This; mare is 10 years old, and evidently' she is being well prepared for another Aintree test,. The third horse last year was Pucka Belle, whose weight has been allowed to remain at 11.13, and Ego, fourth horse, and second to Reynoldstown in the previous contest, has lib. less. The most intriguing of the entrants to many enthusiasts is the eight-year-old Airgead SioiSj who headed the list of winners during the- National Hunt racing season. ]tn commenting On his weight of 12.0, placing him ; immediately under Royal Mail, his owner, Sir Francis Towle, stated His horse had been allotted what ho expected _he would get, and in his preparation for the great event he would onut the customarv test of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Airgead Sios is a brilliant though not orthodox fencer and good judges have declared that even if his stamina is not above suspicion his jumping will carry him a long way to victory.

" To Beat the Field " In selecting six to beat the field this year, "Augur, ' in the Sporting Life, London, named Royal Mail, Airgead Sios and Cooleen in that order, with Loyal Prince, Pontet and Brendan's Cottage next. Loyal Prince and Brendan's Cottage aro trained by G. Beeby. They were both successful in good 'chases over part of the Aintree country in .November under good weights, so there appears to be every reason for the assumption that they will travel well for the four find a-quarter miles of the Grand National course. Pontet, 11.7, is an Irish-bred mare who won the Irish Grand National and Conyngham Cup, created a very favourable impression when she won a three miles steeplechase at in December, and later scored at Newbury. The three last-mentioned horses are" all eight years old. As in recent years, interest has been added to the discussions by the presence of a number of foreign horses in the lists. Battleship, on 11.6, is an 11-vear-old , American, and it is expected, that France will be represented by the six-year-old.Takvor Pasha. 'Don Bradman, who lost his rider at the first fence last year, but who was remounted and completed theeourse, has been given his former weight, IU.B. RACING FIXTURES February 24, 20 —Wanganui Jockey Club. February 2.1, 20 —Westland Racing Club. February 25, 20 —Gore Racing Club! February 20 —Waiapu Racing Club. February 20, 28 —Te Aroha Jockey Club. March *3, •">—Napier Park Racing Club. March s—Franklin5 —Franklin Racing Club. March s—Banks5 —Banks Peninsula Racing Club. March s—Rangitikei Racing Club. March 11, 12 —Cromwell Jockey Club. March 12 —Opunake Racing Club. March 12 —Carterton Racing Club. March 17, 19 —Ohinemuri Jockey Club. March 17, 19 —Wellington Racing Club. March 23, 20 —Oumaru Jockey Club. March 25, 20 —Mnnawatn Racing Club. March 120—Birchwood Hunt Club. March 20, 28—Bay of Plenty Racing Club. March 31, April 2 —llawke's Bay Jockey Club April 2 —Stratford Racing Club. April 2—Matamata Racing Club. April 2—Waimate Racing Club. April 8, 9—Whangarei Racing Club.April 9, 11—Westport Jockey Club. Af , r jl f)_Dannevirko Racing Club (at Waiuukurau). Apr jp o—otautau Racing Club April 1(5 —Tuupeka County Jockey Club. A,> r ji j ft—Greymoulh Jockey Club. April 10, 18 —Wairarapa Racing Club. April 10, 18 —Auckland Racing Club. April Id. 18 —Feilding Jockey Club. April 16, 18, 1» —Riverton Racing Club. April 18, i9 —Canterbury Jockey Club. April 18 —Kumara Racing Club April 18—Waipukurau Jockey Clob. April 38 —Beaumont Racing Club.