PAGE’S RAID RETURNS TO FORM

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25859, 19 July 1949, Page 7

PAGE’S RAID RETURNS TO FORM

Page’s Raid had little to recommend his chance in the Riddiford Steeplechase at Trentham on Saturday, for he had been off the winning list since he won tne Lincoln Steeples at the Grand National meeting in 1947. On the first day he never appeared likely to take a prominent part in the Wellington Steeplechase, and he did not complete the course. Usually one of the safest of jumpers, he fell in the Great Northern Steeplechase last month, and it appeared that his best days were over. His position as the extreme outsider of the field on Saturday was justified on the strength of his earlier efforts, and his win dividend of more than half a century was not a false one. The nine-year-old gelding was assisted by the slow pace in the early and middle stages of the race. He was always within striking range of the leading horses, and he was moving so freely with six furlongs to run that the Riccarton horseman, R. Hawes, allowed him to stride to the front. At the straight entrance he was three lengths clear of Gaiety, which he just stalled off in the run home to win by half a length. Her second advanced Gaidty’s stake earnings for her present owners to £5830, a good return for their small outlay of less than £lOO. Those Awapuni trainers who declined to train her for Messrs C. and A. Lyster passed over an outstanding winner, though they could be excused for declining the job when they had nothing but appearances to guide them. Gaiety is no oil painting, but she has great courage and ability to jump the stiffest fences safely. She has had 13 races as a jumper and she has won seven, run second three times, and third once. She has been weighted with 10-13 in the Grand National Steeplechase, 11b more than she carried on Saturday.

Gaiety is not eligible for entry in the Stud Book, as her dam, Whitmond, is rated a halfbred. Gaiety’s sire. Gay Boy, is by Colossus (son of Polymelus) from Lady Limond, by Limond from Lady Laddo, by Sir Laddo. Thomond, sire of Gaiety’s dam, is by Polydamon (son of Polymelus) from Sweet Tipperary, by King’s Quest from Golden Ball, by Gold Reef. First Act, second to Gaiety in the Wellington Steeplechase, ran another useful race to finish third on Saturday, although he was 12 lengths from Gaiety at the finish. The Ringmaster gelding jumped safely on each day of the meeting, and he will be an interesting candidate for the Grand National Steeplechase. Master Play continued to pay his way on Saturday by finishing fourth, six lengths behind First Act. The Card Sharper gelding has won £5OO with his two minor placings so far at the meeting. Although he is not a brilliant performer he is a safe jumper, and can contest solidly-run races without weakening. Weights for Grand National Hurdles In the list of handicaps for main events at the Grand National meeting published yesterday the weights of 18 horses in the Grand National Hurdles appeared incorrectly. Vassilikos, Aristea, and Imperial Crown have been weighted with 9-1. and the following are on the 9-0 minimum:— Arctic Circle, Beaulitha, Bonifort, Brockie, Bulaselle, Fairhome, Fianna Fail, Gay Fellow, High Order, Homespun, Minion, Sailor Boy, Sal's Pal, Supreme Shepherd, and Perusha. ___