RACING Underbid Picked For Blenheim Today

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29058, 21 November 1959, Page 6

RACING Underbid Picked For Blenheim Today

Underbid, which has shown marked improvement in his recent racing, is expected to regain winning form in the Riley Hack Handicap on the first day of the Marlborough Racing Club’s centennial meeting at Blenheim today. The Riley Hack Handicap will Jt>e the second leg of the on-course double. ,

The first leg of this double will be the Redwood High-weight Handicap. The finish of that race is expected to be disputed by Pleasant Ways and Thumper, which are both form runners from Riccarton, and the Awapuni-trained top-weight Raumati.

Pleasant Ways and Underbid are both last-start form runners. They were rivals over a mile in the Seymour Hack Handicap at Riccarton last Saturday. Underbid was a determined fin.isher for third after overcoming a check on the home turn which could have cost him a winning chance. Pleasant Ways worked forward from the middle of the field into a challenging position a furlong out, but his run was not quite strong enough to enable him to reach a dividend-bearing place. He dead-heated for fourth with the faster finishing Nafanua, These two were separated from Underbid by a nose. An inside position at the seven furlong barrier at Blenheim can be a decided advantage. Underbid has drawn No. 1. A good beginning should place victory well within his reach. If they can overcome their wide barrier positions without having to cover too much extra ground Awatere, Sir Noel and Kent might prove to be Underbid’s strongest rivals. T.A.B. Double The T.A.B. double will be on the Marlborough Centennial Cup and the Weld Handicap. Compensate is the ruling favourite for the first leg and it is expected that he will justify that position. One of his strongest opponents might be his stablemate Pilot Light. There will also be solid backing for the Riccarton-tralned runners Purser, Water Boy, Royal Halyard and Gaytana. Appreciate, which has an outstanding winning record in open sprints at Blenheim, will be highly favoured in his attempt to add the Weld Handicap to that list. It will require one of his best gallops, however, to succeed, for

he has to concede up to 291 b to some very capable sprinters. One of the hardest for him to beat might be the lightly-weighted Roman Maid, which will be having her first race in open company. The North Island sprinters Fair King. Scimitar and Ranganui should also add interest to the finish. There was rain in Blenheim earlier in the week but the weather cleared on Thursday. Unless there are further downpours the track will be in good order.