THE LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 117, 18 May 1892, Page 3

THE LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL.

The field for lihe Grand National last Friday wao the largest since Disturbance beat; 26 opponents in 1873 and won Captain Machell his firßts Liverpool. Twenty-five went to the post this anniversary. They were a fine lot of hunters, too, for only one fell the first time round, and we experienced too magnificent spectacle of seeing two ■ flozen animals take the big hedge water Jump, opposite the Grand Stand, without a fault. Nowhere but at Liverpool can a •sporting treat like this be enjoyed. It beat?, in excitement., even a close finish for we Derby or watching a Cesarewitch field come .streaming across the flat at New- ■ market. Betting aa usual on the Grand National . ™°k a wide range. The British army ; wood the Primate (boetridden by Captain ' sewicke), w«o was favourite almost from roe moment the weights appeared. Afc the «JWb, however, Old Cloi3ter (12sb 31b),

who ran second last year, passed him in the quotations. :Over 12sb never ha 3 and never will be carried to victory at Liverpool, but every year some famous chaser attempts the impossible feat, and fails brilliantly. Cloister started at 11 to 2, 6to 1 being laid Tho Primate, 10 to 1 the horse. Ardcarn (the hope of old Ireland), 100 bo 9 the Sandown winner Hollington, .100 to 8 Jason, 100 to 7 Fen by, 20 to 1 Hex (tho -vinner in 1890, and placed in '91. carried 12at 71b), 20 to 1 Father O'Flynn (Capt. "Koddy" Owen's mount), 25 to 1 each Billee Taylor, Lord Arthur, Midshiptnite, and Cruiser, 53 to 1 Lord of Glen, 40 to 1 Artisan and Ulysses, 50 to 1 to 200 to 1 others). The field got off splendidly, and as I have already mentioned completed two miles and a-half with only one fall. Tho pace was a cracker. Cloister led over tho stand water jump with Flying Column, this pair being well clear of Lord Arthur, Midshipmite, Tho Primate and Father O'Flynn, who came next. Entering the country a second time, Billoe Taylor balked and Fenby fell, and Becher's Brook proved fatal to Meldrum, Wollesloy, and Jason. Tho Primate about this time stopped to nothing, and walked in with tho crowd. At Canal Point (a mile from home) Cloister was leading, witk Flying Column, Midshipmite, Ardcarn, Ilex, Father O'Flynn, and Hollington alone dangerous. At Valentine's Brook Mr Atkinson brought Midshipmite up to the leaders, and at the next fence ho assumed the command. His advantage, however, was short-lived, for the following obstacle brought Midshipmite down, and Cloister was again left bounding in front, followed by Flying Column, Ardcarn, Ilex, and' Father O'Flynn. These rive rapidly drew away from the tail, and no further change occurred till a'couple of fences from home. Then Flying Column and Ardcarn were beaten, and their heavy weights had told cruelly on Cloister and Ilex. Captain Owen thereupon easily brought up tho lightly-burdened Father O'Flynn, and cantered home twenty lengths in front of the two last-named champions, who (as in JS9I) finished second and third respectively. Ardcnrn was fourth, Flying Column a loug way oft' fifth, and tho Eecond favourite a bad luat. Father O'Flynn is an agctl horso by PvOtreat out of tho half-bred Kathleen. He has won several lesser chases this year, and was well backed for a place. Tho honours of the Grand National, however, belong to Cloister and Ilex. Captain Owen wasted hard to get down to lOst 51b, and rode ova five-pound saddle.