C J.C. GBAND NATIONAL MEETING.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12571, 14 August 1906, Page 7

C J.C. GBAND NATIONAL MEETING.

Many people affirm that the principal steeplechase meeting of the season, which commences ■at noon to-day; affords more genuino pleasure than any other fixture of the racing year. That jumping races possess a peculiar attraction of their own there is no gainsaying, and he who cannot reap ] enjoyment from watching a strongi field of well-trained horses streaming j over a line of country, such as is to ] bo found at Riccarton, must be in poor caso indeed. The promised excellence of the sport that will be provided this week has drawn enthusiasts from every part of tho colony, and if the weather holds fine, as it now seems likely to do, they will havo no reason to regret their pilgrimage. After the recent rains the going will be a trifle holding. This, however, is just as it should be. Horses will thus bo less likely to jar thoir joints whilst landing over the.fences, and, knowing this, they will j jump with increased confidence, whilst j tall* on comparatively soft ground are ■ not usually attended with such serious consequences as accidents met with when the land is cracking under the influence .if a summer sun. The course, and tho various enclosures, present a pleasing spectacle, though tho latter naturally lack tho gorgeous setting lent by banks of fullbloomed flowers as in spring-time. Several improvements havo been carried out since tho Autumn Meeting, and perhaps that which will bo most appreciated by tho general public is the replacement of tho tan which lay around tho totalisator house, by quartgravel. This has considerably brightened up tho spot, and is far more pleasant to walk upon than the material previously used, which was always either damp or dusty. Attractive as other items on the card undoubtedly are, the chief interest will, of course, centre in tho New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase. Only a week ago it seemed toloxahly certain that at least seventeen horses would go to the post for this event. Since then, however, Nadador has gone lamo behind, Waiwera has shown such a determined objection to facing anything but plain timber that his owner realised his prospects were hopeless, and withdrew him, whilst Mawhiti and Manazoua are to confine their attentions to races of minor importance. These horses, and Moccasin, who wa6 not brought South, having dropped out, a field of fourteen remains, and with regard to it at least three tilings may be said. One, that it is thoroughly representative, two, that it is comprised of as fit a lot of horses as ever contested a cross-country event in New Zealand, and three, tho winner promises to be exceptionally hard to find. If Sol gets the course without seriously tampering with any of the fences he will probably prevail. He is only a little one, but every bit of him is good, and he can both gallop fast and stay. But there it is; will ho jump cleanly?. Well, we must wait and Eoe, and meanwhile it is just tJhis lack of certainty with respect not only to Sol but to every one of tho horses that may oppose him, that lends charm to tho prospect before us. Kiatere is in fine condition, and though many people do not wholly approve of his action, he has successfully been through the crucial test of carrying big weights and winning in public. So far he has failed to negotiate tho Riccarton country, but the very best of jumpers occasionally make mistakes, and presuming all goes well with him ho may be relied upon to run a fine race. Two years ago Slow Tom arid Pipi had a great battle for first honours, and barring accidents they should finish close together this afternoon. Swimmer is a dangerous candidate, but he does not appear to jump so well when the pace is severe as he. should do. Still, he has shaped well over the EHerslieand Takapuna fences, and if he avoids mishap he will not bo very far away from the winner whon the post is passed. Eurus has recently been galloping in such an indifferent manner on tho tracks that he has gone, out of favour, and the same thing applies to Phae-tontis. The latter, however, was doing all that was asked of him in such convincing stylo up to last Thursday tbat it is reasonable to believe his moderate display on Saturday was the outcome either of a fit of laziness, or of his being run off his feet during the early stages of the gallop. He bias certainly not been overtrained, and he looks a better horse than he did twelvo months ago/ when he would undoubtedly have run first or second had he not came to grief half a mile from home. Since his arrival in the South Island Irish lias dono splendidly. He is not a handeome horse at any time, but he is ono that improves ou acquaintance, and is, for racing purposes, far better built than many of-his'more aristo-cratic-looking contemporaries. There is no better stayer, engaged in the race and if he gets a fair passage he will prove desperately hard to shako off in tho final run home. Rongoa, Playfair, Baritone, Narcissus and Victory can only have jumpers' chances, but Ranana can gallop a bit, and as he has only a light weight to carry, he should run prominently.

An unusually large field is engaged in the Winter Cup, and a firjio race may be anticipated with confidence. Makaroff has been galloping well, and tho chances of Gold Crown, Polyanthus, Gawain, Maui, Chryseis, Ellerton, Notus and Aboriginal are favourably regarded in various quarters. On public form Lyrist and Waikato read dangerous, but since their arrival in Riocarton they have acquitted themselves 60 poorly that they have gone out of favour. Bulawayo is looked upon as a likely starter, but he has not been moving so freely as his admirers, could wish, and js unlikely to be seen at his best. Tlie afternoon's entertainment will be varied by flat raoes,, hunters' events, and a trial hurdle handicap, and the sport bids fair to be of an exceptionally interesting description. Special trains Trttf leave Christchurch* for the. Racecourse platform at 10.50, 11.5, 11.15, .11 ;24, 11.31 a.m., 12.15 and 1.15 p.m., whilst electric trams will run to and from the course at intervals of fifteen minutes. The following is the programme for tho day:— 12 noon.—HUNTERS' HURDLE RACE HANDICAP, of 100 soys. Once round and a distance. Bt lb it lb Early Van .. 12 2 Nogi .. 11 7 Makuri .. 12 - Hikairoa .. 11 3 Hinemoa .. 12 2 Design .. 11 2 Helios ...1113 Sir Jamea .. 11 0 ivaihu .. 11 12 Ecclefechan .. 11 0 Eveulode .. 11 9 Loch Erin."'.. 11 0 RansitKta ..11 8 Black Friar .. 11 0 Gold" Bangle.. 11 7 Corona ... 11 0 12.40 p.m.—TRIAL HURDLE RACE HANDICAP, of 150 soys. One mile and threequarters. Prospector .. 10 11 0 7 Stronghold .. 10 9 Biack Squall.. 0 2 Sardonyx .. 10 C Woe Macgreegor 9 0 Faro .. 9 11 Sobreon .. 9 0 Bounce .. 9 10 1.40 p.ro.-WrNTSR CUP HANDICAP, of 500 soys. One mile. Gold Crown .. 11 0 Chryseis .. 9 7 Lyrist .. 10 7 Ellerton .. 9 G \Vaikato .. 10 6 Jolly Friar .. 9 5 Makaroff .. 10 5 Mai-njess .. 9 5 Polyanthus .. 10 4 Blythemaid .. 9 S Gawain .. 10 3 Notus .. 9 3 Maui .. 10 2 Hoyal Crown .. 9 3 Bulawayo .. 10 1 Inglcneuk .. 9 2 Red Gauntlet 9 13 Aboriginal ..9 0 Crichton .. 9 13 Bombastes .. 9 0 Heroism .. 9 9 Landwern .. 9 0

2.25 p.m.-Of.Z. GRAJOT) NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, of 1000 aovi. Thro* miles a»d a half. <;.■■-■:■■;■' ; ,t lb Kiatere (F. Howwd) .., ..13 0 60l (W. Wileon .. . .. 11 13 Slow Tom (D. Wait) .. .. 11 S Swimmer (S. Howie) .. 10. 9, Eurne (J. McGregor) .. 10,-8 Phaotontie (W. Biggina) .. 10 0 Irish iB. Towers) .. .. 10 6 Kongo* (F. land) .. .. 913 Playfair (John O'Coar.ell) .. 911 Raaana (W. O'Connell) .. 910 Baritone (Jcr. CConncU) .. 9 8 Pipi (H. Carr) ... ..9 7 Naroissue (G. Byrne) ~. 9 7 Victory (C. Sneeoy) .. .. 9 7 3.5 p.m.-TALLY-HO PLATE STEEPLECHASE, of 60 soys. Two miles and a half. Lucky Star .. 13 10 Poplar .. 12 10 Wild Bill *. 13 10 Haerikimo* .. 12 10 Togo .. 13 10 Roaomorn .. li 10 Canton .. 12 10 Albury .. 12 10 Stormy Petrel 13 10 Unc'e Ike .. 1210 Vagrant , .. 12 10 Doarslsycr .. I' 210 3.45 p.m.—JUMPERS' FLAT BACE HANDICAP, of ISO sove. One mile and a half. Shrapnel ..11 6 Romany King 9 a Bleck Reynard 10 13 The Gueseer 0 2 Tirole .. 10 4 Waiwera .. 9 0 Cniriißno .. 913 SiWcrlene .. 9 0 Comfort .. 912 Leeside .. 9 0 MagniScent .. 9 8 Error .. 9 0 Ptishfnl ..9 8 Bangiwhenua 9 0 Faro ..9 3 4.25 p.m.—ENFIELD STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, of 100 cove. About two miles. Narcissus .. 10 10 Curio .. 9 7 Rowlock .. 10 9 Elmwood .. 9 7 Wi Waka .. 10 8 Recruit .. » t Graduated Tax 10 7 5.5 p.m.—SACK HANDICAP, of 100 cove. Six furlongs. Armamento .. 10 10 Volodia .. 912 Takaroa .. 10 7 Jolly Roger .. 9 9 TogoH .. 10 3 Balsam .. 9 9 Gazeloy .. 10 3 Aqua Regia .. 9 9 Count Gorton 10 2 Buccleuch .. 9 0 Curiosity .. 10 1 Mango .. 9 0 Hemlock .. 10 0 Wee Macgroegor 9 0 Outer .. 913 Fairboy .. 9 0 parley Grove 912 Ensign ..9 0 Likely winners are:— Hunters' Hurdles—Kaiha or Evenlod*. Trial Hurdles—Prosp.ector. Winter Cup—Polyanthus, Makaroff, Aboriginal. Grand National Steeplechase)—Phaetontia, Sol, Irish. Tally-ho Plate—Lucky Star. Jumpers' Plat Race—Shrapnel. Enfield Steeplechaso-^Narciseus. Hack Handicap—Curiosity.