THE GRAND NATIONAL

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 185, 8 August 1927, Page 14

THE GRAND NATIONAL

STEEPLECHASE DAY.

PROGRAMME FOR TO-MORROW,

mi: l-'ir.LD ekvikwkd

Tlio Now Zealand Grand National meeting open* at. Jticcartoa to-morrow, and thfro will bo qnito a lot of interest taken in the fixture, for tlu> majority of the l>p.-<t cross-country hor-e , * in Uu>.

Dominion arc ongiifrod

The Opening Event

rroi-eedinj.'s will open with tho

Hunters* Ilurdk's, for which nine are engaged. (. alluna is top weight-, hut did not impress with his display at tJu: Chri.stdiurch hunt meeting. Tho Babe was third in a steeplechase at Waimatc and won a similar event at thft South Canterbury meeting, while ho von the Kennels Hurdles at tho Christchurch hunt fixture, beating Cay ..Tim, who also is engaged in the event under review. Master Black has not raced for a long time, and Itoyal Fashion was third in J .ho Hunters' Plate at Waimatc and the Pareora Steeplechase at the South Canterbury meeting. Kangiawhio was third in the Kennels Hurdles at Kir-car-ton last Saturday week, after meeting with interference. Probably most support will ho accorded: THE BARK OAY JIM nAXGIAWHIO. The Trial Hurdles. Only half a dozen aio carded fur the Trial Hurdle*. JVrlo do Leon, wno heads tho handicap. Inn also an engagement in tho Junipers' Flat Race. At Wellington l'erle do Leon started in the V'ittoria Hurdle Race, but failed to get into tho money. On the third day, however, he ran a great race in thp Winter Hurdles, finishing third to Nukumai and Wharnelirle, with 10.4 and now be has 11.10 to carry. He has shown cjreat ability over "the sticks" this seaton. Feneus also ha« demonstrated tliut he ean jump, and his second to Konena in the Longbeach Hurdles at the Christrhnrch Hunt Club's meeting will bring him into favour, for ho has only been raised 31b. Ahorfehly is a most promising young hurdler, and, after winning at Wellington, he scored at tho South Canterbury meeting. Vexatious also ran well at Trenthatn, being a good third in tho Vittoria and C'nrunna Hack Hurdles, while ho performed pleasingly in tho Winter Hurdles. Ouncase may elso havo friends. Probably mrwt money will go on PKRLK T)E T-F.OX ABKKFKLDY PENETS. The Cashmere Plate. The Cashmere. Plate, is run at special weights over six furlong*. fJreen Clotl is one of Sir fleorge- Clifford's team, ami ?ho finished third in tho Middlo Park Plato last seaeon. Moratorium is a use ful sort. Ho won four races last season and may improve on his showing at tin Christchurch Hunt Club meeting. Srotl was second in the Maiden Stakes a' Rircarton recently to Wreath of Myrtle while Prince Paladin won the N'ovici Stakes, five furlongs, at Blenheim. Koya Lineago and Paris may be the best o the others. Most money imiy lie in vested on

WREATH OF MVHTLI. MORATORIUM PRINCE PALADIN. Jumpers , Fiat Race. Nukuniai has the steadier (if 12.12 in the Jumpers' Flat Krce, but. on recent performances he is not badly treated, for Ngata carried ill) morn last year ami von. Perle de Leon, if reserved for this race, will have some friends. Tlie distance may be :i bit too

far for Passionate. Caze Taces in the same colours as Perle de Leon. Royalform is not badly treated with 10.4, while Bonena, Kaikahu, aud Captain Sarto may be tho best of the others. Rangitahi did not please at Wellington or Kiecarton when raced recently. Probably tho best backed will b» NUKUMAI ROYALFORM BONENA. The Big Event. Then comes the big event, the Grand National Steeplechase. Beau Cavalier has 11.7, but he won so well at Ellerslie and Trentham carrying 10.7 on the latter occasion that he haa to bo respected. He is a brilliant jumper and stays well. Kawini is meeting him on 1 libs better terms than at Trentham, and he should be much harder to beat than in the Great Northern and Wellington Steeplechases. Tuki won the Winter Steeplechase at Auckland and the July Steeple-

chase at Trenthnm, and he has been gniug along nil right in hie work since then. Maiinga von tho Wanganui Steeplechaso and «as second in the Great Northern Stoeplooliaso to Boau Cavalier. After running unplaced in

:he "Winter Hurdles at Trentham he won tho Homeby Steeplechase at Ric carton last [Saturday week, carrying 11.9. To-morrow ho has 10.5, and a* staying is his foite he is sure to run c ,'reat race. Zircon has raced well ov?i ■>teeples in public, but his displays vhei schooling at Kiccarton recently have be.e.ll anything but pleasing. If h* was to jump all right he would be in th( picture. Peter Maxwell Avon the oveni last year, and with 10.1 to-morrow In is nicely weighted. Hβ won the Grand 'hind Steeplechase at Wanganui, anc after finishing sixth in the Great NTorthern Steeplechase he was second tc Maunga in tho Homeby Steeplechase al Hiccarton recently. Charlatan, who wai third in tho event last year with 9.K has now 0.10. He won at South Can terbury, and was third in the Homebj Steeplechase at the Christchurch Huui Club's meeting, Vice-Grand may b< the best of tho others. Probably tht favourites wi]l be BEAU CAVALIER KAWIM M AUNG A. The Hack Steeples. Seven have been accepted for in the Hack Steeplechase, and Hokioi is top weight with 10.12. He is a good jumpei and has pace, and it is just a questior. of him staying on to get into the money Greenstone is a pretty fair Yha3er, and was second recently in tho Hunt Clut Steeples at Waimate. Osterman wot tho Tesehemaker Memorial Steeplechase two miles and a half, at the Soutl Canterbury meeting, while of tho others Sir Wai and Jovial may be tho best The public may fancy most: OSTFFMAN HOKIOI GREENSTONE. The Winter Cup. A good field numerically is engaged in the Winter Cup. Merry Damon who. with Magna f'harta. heads the list showed up at Trentham. Magm Charta has l>cen galloping well since t< won at Kirrarton last Saturday week and nn will be in great demand. Blacl> Mint has not shown a great, deal oi form recently, but if right can be ex pected to run a good race. Assurance is useful over a mile, but Nincompoop has not. Avon for some time past. Chick' wheat, after disappointing at Wellington and South Canterbury, seems to b« coming back to form by his performance in getting fifth in the Brabazor Handicap at Riocarton recently. Indian Sago showed Tip in events at Trenthair. last month, but failed to stay on. Wlienuaiiui has not won for some time past, while Soltoe ran well at. the Dun edin meeting over a mile, and has performed pleasingly during tho last fe-w months. Jiaiti wou at Gisl>orne, while noromea anil Peho were winners a I Wellington. Taboo has performed wel on tlio West Coast, and Solferito ha; been showing good form recently, being third in the Brabazon Handicap at ♦he Christ church Hunt meeting tc Magna Charta and Royal Game. Wher the. final figures are adjusted most monej may bo entrusted to

MAfJXA CHARTA PEHO SOLFKRITE. The Concluding Event. I Th« programme will conclude with I tin* Avonhond Handicap, and probably most support will be accorded KALOS VAIRY TIDINGS i HOWLEY. I The programme is as follows:--First Day.—Tuesday, August 9. HINTERS , lII'RDLES nf 2«osovs. Oue wile and three-quarters. St. lb. Bt.lb. Tnlluna .... 11 " Ranciawhio f» <> The Babe .. I<> 1" I,utliy .... f» ?> ♦ Jii.v ... !! 1- Bandolero .. i> 2 Mn'stor Blii.k !• l'» Plastic .... 0 0 Royal Fashion !» '•> TRIAL HURDLES of 2."iOsovs. On<: mile and three-quarters. Porle rtc Leon It 1<» Voxatlous .. ft t> PrnPiif .... I' l 12 (iunense .... e 4 Aberfeldy ..10 'i Beauty Light 'J 0 CASHMERE- PLATE of 250sovs. S'lx furlonps. (Tlircryoiir-oMs ft.", four-ypar- ! olds and upwards 9.11 ;no allowances.) Croon Cloth Qnantnm Moratorium Royal Lineage Paris Scoff Honey Iproar Money Peer Wreath of Myrtle I'rinc'e l'nlndiii JUMPERS' FLAT of 2. r »osovs. One niiln and a-half.

Niikuninl ... 1- 12 Bonpna .... 10 2 IVrle rip Leon 11 "> Kaikahu ... 10 0 I'assionatH . I<> !> San l'edro . !• •"• <;nz(. 10 r> Rancitahi .. '.1 2 Royal Form . 10 4 Captain Sarto !• 1 Coastguard . 10 4 Beauty Llglit t> 0 GRAN It NATIONAL, STKKPI.KCHAKE of leoOsovs. Three milPs and a-half. Benu Cavalier 11 7 Pater Maxwell 10 3 Kuwitii .... 11 1 Charlatan .. 910 'Juki 11 0 Kipling 9 0 Mntinga .... 10 5 Vice <irand .90 Zir<-on 10 2 San Forte .. 0 0 KXFIELD STEEPLECHASE of 2."osovs. About two miles. Ilokloi 10 12 Jovial ..... 9 5 Greenstone . 10 S Biff Push .. '.* R Osterninn ... 10 7 Uoodform .. 9 0 Sir Wai .... 0 12 WINTER CUP of 750sove. One mile. Merry Damon 10 0 Joy Bird .... ft 1 Mapna Cbarta 10 0 Horoinea ... 0 1 Yaward 9 11 Taboo ..... » 1 Black Mint .. 911 Huikai 9 0 Assurance .. 9 0 Royal Mint .. 9 0 Nincompoop .98 Peho 9 0 Chickwhcat . 0 7 Arrowmir ... 9 0 Tresham ... 9 7 Solferite .... 9 0 Indian Sage 9 5 Gold Mint . . 9 0 Koltoe 9 4 Flaming Ray 9 0 Whonuanui ..94 Grand National 9 0 Haiti 9 3 AVONHEAD HANDICAP of 200sovs. Seven furlongs. Kalos 10 8 Bronstell ... 9 5 Fairy Tidings 10 7 Gay Bird .. 9 3 Rowley 10 1 Master Black 9 2 Ilurdy Gurdy 10 0 Cornstalk .. 9 1 Cerf 910 Philanderer 9 0 Mas. Clarence 9 9 Spearman .. 9 0 Royal Head . 9 5 Chivalry ..90 Big Push ..9 5

NOTES FROM THE SOUTH. FIELDS FOR OPENING DAT. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The Grand National meeting opens tomorrow at Riccarton, and the Aucklanders are favoured in the big race. At the time of wiring the weather is fine, but the sky is overcast. However, the prospects for the meeiing being opened in fine weather are distinctly promising, and to-morrow's programme should provide most enjoyable racing.

The first turn will be staged by the hunters in a mile and threequarters hurdle race, and there is not much encouragement for backers to risk very much, as the field will be comprised of moderates, some of unknown quality. Calluna, The Babe, Gay Jim and Rangiawhio will all be nibbled at, and the favourites may be Gay Jim and Rangiawhio. There are only six acceptors for the Trial Hurdles, and it may be there will only be one dividend. Perle de Leon, after running third in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham, is bound to be fancied, ami as he has been galloping; and jumping well in hi- work, he may be the favourite. He will find it difficult to give Aberfeldy 221b and Vexati-

ous 341b. The latter went badly on Saturday in a workout over hurdles, and this may cause him to be paying a false price. Aberfeldy may b» the best proposition.

The Cashmere Plato is a race practically confined to maidens, and $t is not likely to attract very great interest. Not on* of those engaged has any outstanding form, and anything may win.

Despite his burden of 12.12, Nukumai will be the favourite in the Jumpers' Flat, and he certainly is a class above the others. At the same time he has only 21b under 13 stone, and will want to bo good. Passionate has not been responsible for anything ';ut of the ordinary since he came to Riccarton, but ho moved nicely on Saturday, and if there should be any rain he will take a part in the settlement of the race. Nothing has been galloping better than Bonena and though he does not get going very quickly, he can go fast when properly settled down. If Xukumai is beaten, Bonena may be the one to do it.

If the verdict of trackwatehers counts for anything, there are ouly three with a chance in the Grand National Steeplechase, Beau Cavalier, Kawini and Maunga, but a few are inclined to give Tukj a chance. The work has been very interesting, but nothing has done better than Kawini in his efforts over the fences. He has never put a foot wrong, and on the Hat he has shown plenty of pace. With A. McDonald aboard he will lose nothing on the score of horsemanship. Beau Cavalier, in a schooling task on Saturday, nearly landed on top of one of the brush fences. They are pretty stiff, and ho will not want to take any risks to-morrow. Maunga has been doing particularly well, and such a fine stayer must bo there at the end. Summed up," there seeme every reason to support Maunga and Kawini. There are only seven in the Enfield Steeplechase, aiid, on form, they arc a poor lot. Though Hokioi is not a good stayer, two miles will suit him, and niavbe he and Greeenstone will be most

fancied. The doings of the Winter Cup candidates have been written up so fully that there is no reason to go over it all again. Magna Charta is still the favourite and will hold his position, but there are several others who -will be solidly supported. Among them are' Merry Damon, Black Mint, Chickwheat, Kaiti, Peho and Solferitc. A trio who have done well arc Horoiwa, Magna Charta and Teho.