RACING No Offence Fancy For Steeplechase

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 4

RACING No Offence Fancy For Steeplechase

Napoleon Bonaparte is not a certain starter in the Dromore Steeplechase at Ashburton tomorrow, according to his Orari trainer, P. H. C. Stock.

Stock said yesterday that he would not make a decision until tomorrow morning about a start for Napoleon Bonaparte, which is a form horse after a second to Sarkey at Oamaru last week.

If Napoleon Bonaparte drops out of the field the ; Wingatui-trained No Offence will probably have strongest backing.

No Offence has been mixing steeplechasing and hurdling with fairly good results in the last few ’ weeks. He was placed over hurdles at Waimate, and ; a week later he won the hack steeplechase on the first ' day of the Dunedin meeting.

Last week he ran against the hurdlers at Oamaru, and beat all but Tannine. No Offence, like Sarkey, is trained by H. A. Anderton, one of the most successful Jumping trainers in the South jsland. - No Offence, with 9-11, is closest Jo the top weight Mozart (10-12). It is unusual for Riccarton to ■supply the top weight in a steeplechase. Recent Winner Mozart, one of the more successful South Island hurdlers last season, made a successful debut as a ’chaser at Ashburton last month. After that he raced at the Dunedin winter meeting jvhere he was twice placed. ' Grey Valley is unlikely to be jone of the strong contenders unless he improves markedly on anything he has shown lately. There will be stronger backing Jor other South Canterbury horses lower in the weights: also the lliccarton-trained Saltash. Van Da Hum and Hay Time are South Canterbury jumpers just above the minimum. Their form has been nothing wonderful, but Hay Time’s third against the ’chasers at Oamaru was probably an improver’s effort Van Da Hum, last start, ran fourth to Shootalong, Le Roi, and i)elarmo in the Dunedin Steeples *at Wingatui on June 11. * Saltash has not raced over ■country, but in all his schooling 7>e has shaped as if he will make the grade without any trouble. Saltash’s latest race was the Otago Hurdles, in which he was fifth. Earlier in the autumn he .won two distance hack races, one of them at Riccarton. ’ Column and Arctic Sun, stable«nates of Napoleon Bonaparte, will be two of the stronger fancies for the Hinds Hack Hurdles. Solid Form ’ Column, top weight in the ■hurdles, has done his latest racing In open flat handicaps, and has shown that he is carrying his nine years lightly.

« He started a solid patch of -form with a third in the Waimate JCup. A week later he ran third in the Dunedin Jockey Club’s .Birthday Handicap, and last week he beat all but Promise and Mat-

lock in the Oamaru Winter Cup. paration was designed to have Untidy jumping at times has cost Column winning chances as a hurdler. But if his jumping is free of serious blemishes tomorrow his ability on the flat might be the deciding factor. Arctic Sun is this year’s Otago Steeplechase winner. His pre-

him at his best for that race, which is his latest, and he should be in trim for a bold run against the hurdlers at Ashburton. Other form runners in the field include Tarmine, surprise winner of the hurdles at Oamaru; Beau Revere, the hurdles winner at Waimate last month; and Pitlochry, the runner-up to Savoury at the North Canterbury meeting.

Mexico strengthens the chance of a win for South Canterbury. He has a good record, cm the Ashburton course, and won there last month.