BIG ENGLISH 'CHASE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 28, 3 February 1939, Page 12

BIG ENGLISH 'CHASE

GRAND NATIONAL.

GLANCE AT ENTRIES

FINDING A TOPWEIGHT. HANBICAPPER'S DIFFICULTY. \ LONDON", January 12. Tlie present is a suitable opportunity to take a look at some of the Grand .National entries (writes our racing correspondent). All the recognised and qualified are engaged, though •why some of them should have been nominated is entirely beyond me. Among them are horses who would be hard put to it to win a selling chase, and the owners can only be classed as super-optimists. There are two French six-year-olds in Littry and Verbena, but all the others arc well known, even though some may lack what is known as class.

There is not much doubt that the lianclicapper will iiiul himself faccd with a ticklish problem, go far as finding a topweight is concerned. Last year Royal Mail had the post, of honour at 12.7, with Airgead Sios at 12.0. Airgead Sios fell in the second circuit, and Royal Mail had to be pulled up because of "a broken blood vessel. This season they have met on two occasions, and Airgeiid Sios has proved successful each time. He conceded seven- pounds at Wincanton early in the season, and when the pair met at level weights in the Bcelier Chase at Aintree Airgead Sios won, and Eoyal Mail was only fourth.

The handicapper 'cannot very well ignore those facts, even though I!oya 1 Mail has won the Grand National and

Airgead Sios has still to prove that he can stay the distance. If Airgead Sios is not placed at the head of the handicap this time it can only be because the compiler of the weights thinks there is no chance of the gelding staying the full course. At three miles there would not be tlie slightest doubt about Airgead Sios being placed at the top. Battleship, who won last year, has gone back to the United States, but his owner, Mrs. Marion Scott, has entered War Vessel by the naine sire.

Of those who completed the course last year Royal Danieli, Workman, Cooleen, Delaehaiice, Blue Shirt. Under Bid. and Bachelor Prince arc available once more. So far there has been no market oil the race, but no doubt the bookmakers will try to form one now that the entries are known. If such actually happens there is little doubt that Royal Danieli will be made favourite, though prudent backers will prefer to await the publication of the The usual rule is to advance a winner ten pounds, and Royal Danieli would liave to be regarded as a virtual, if not an actual, winner, seeing he was only caught 011 the post last March. Sul»sequcntly Royal Danieli won the Lancashire Chase*at Manchester under, a big weight, and that is a point the liandicappcr will not overlook, in addition to tlio' fact - that the Irish gelding is young enough to have improved, so I do not anticipate Royal Danieli getting much less than 12.0, and that is a weight which wants a lot of carrying our four miles and a half at Aintrce.

The mishap to Royal Danicli is regarded as of a trivial nature. It' should not interfere with his preparation to anj r extent. It is unticipated that lie will soon be in strong work again, and if all goes well we arc to see him at Nottingham next month. It is not as if. the damage was done in a race or in a gallop. He is a cheery sort of horse, and loves to roll in.his box. It is thought he must have knocked himself when indulging in the playful pastime.