NATIONAL WEIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 253, 22 July 1936, Page 14

NATIONAL WEIGHTS

Diamond and Billy Boy

NOTES AND COMMENTS F. D. Jones’s Sydney Team (Bx The Watcheb.) The appearance of the weights for the Grand Nationals wjll stimulate interest in these leading events of the jumping season, which is now drawing to a close. The honour of being top weight has gone to last year's winner, Valpeen, with an extra 31b. to carry, though his form in the interval has not been good, while Punchestown, who was second last August, is down 11b., and Billy Boy. third, is on the same mark. The weights this year as compared with last are interesting and arc given below: — b 1935. 1936. Valpeen (Ist) 11.13 12.2 Billy Boy (3rd) 11.5 IL«> Punchestown (2nd) *. 10.1 10.0 Royal Idmond 10.8 10.8 Pahu 9.3 9.6 Dnnmure 10. i 9.0 Umtali 9.4 9.0 Night Parade ........ 9.0 9.0

Bflly Boy Well In. On the figures Billy Boy would appear to be extraordinarily well treated. He has since won three important steeplechases, including the Great Northern and the July Steeplechase at Wellington, and to leave him on the same mark while Royal Limond is also kept up to the same level is surprising. The two unlucky runners in last year's Grand National were Punchestown and Billy Boy.

Form Last Year. On the second day of the last Grand National, Valpeen was started in the Beaufort Steeplechase with the crusher of 12.13, and he ran a creditable third to Makeup, 11.10, and Umtali, 9.3, who dead-heated. Billy Boy, 11.7, fell. On the third day in the Lincoln Steeples, Billy Boy with 11.4 was third to Free Air, 9.0, and Umtali, 9.13. Punchestown, who had 10.7, fell. Recent Form.

Recent doings are now of more importance, and at Waikato Billy Boy won with 10.5 from Forest Glow, 10.4, Diamond 10.4 (fourth), and Valpeen, 12.3, among the also rans. On the second day Diamond won under 10.5, Valpeen also running with 12.2 and Royal Limond with 10.10. Great Northern Running.

Going on to the Great Northern meeting, Billy Boy, 10.7, won the Great Northern from Forest Glow, 9.13, and Diamond, 10.3, among the unplaced lot being Royal Limond, 10.10. and Umtali. 9.3. In the Winter Steeplechase Forest Glow was the winner under 10.3, Umtali being fourth with 9.0, and Valpeen, 11.8, and Billy Boj« 11.1, unplaced.

AJ. Trentham. Wellington comes next, ami for the purposes of comparison the weights at Trentham and at Riccarton are given :— Wgtn. G.N.

Diamond Dropped. Diamond has 91b. mote to curry, but on the other hand he has been dropped 61b. from the 11.5 be was given in the July Steeplechase, in which he did not run, while Billy Boy, who won, has to meet him 101 b. worse than he was called up to do here on the third day. So Diamond must also be. regarded as a welltreateil horse, at Riccarton. It looks ns if the. handicapper has expressed a doubt about Dim staying the National course. The comparison between the July Steeples, weights and, those fob the National is as follows: — . .

Likely Pair. The biggest .concession- has been made to Dunmore,’ but l;e .will need all of it. and the 51b. which Pahu has been dropped .makes him read a prospect over the longer journey at Riccarton. Still, Diamond wais droppeel 61b. for not running, and .neither Pahu nor any of die others ever looked like getting close, to him in the Wellington Steeplechase. Mauawatu is one who has to be considered, also, but of those that ran here few will look past Diamoud and Billy Boy both on figures and on form. Fancied 'Aucklander.

Allegretto is greatly fancied by the northerners, but we have very little line on him, and he hai.i run-only three times, lie may be as good as reputation paints him, but on the other hand be will need to be all they claim. He .was a winner of a hack steeplechase event on the second day at Waikato, but he beat moderate lot. His best form was the defeat of Diamond on the opening day at Ellerslie -izi the Greenlane Steeplechase, but lie carried only 9.8 and Diamond conceded him 29 lb. Allegretto won again on the third day at Auckland with 10.12, but as Electric Flash was second with 9.2 that form does not look anything exceptional. Diamond w.ill meet him 211 b. better at Riecarton, and not only that, but Diamond is a better horse than he was iu Auckland, and has the Wellington Steeplechase to. his crcdi-t. . Still, Mr. Coyle made Allegretto meet Diamond 331 b. worse than Auckland in hi« weights for the Wellington Steeplechase.

Thurina and Punehestowu. It is three years since Thurina won with 9.10, ami two years since he last raced, when lie ran off in the National under 10.11, and broke down in the Lincoln Steepler to run second under H.G to Membo, with Billy Boy, 12.3, fourth. Thurina would be a prospect, bad he had. any racing, but lie can hardly lie considered for another National after two years' absence. I’uuchestown is somewhat .similarly situated. He was not raced for twelve months, and no amount of schooling and track-work will fit them for a National like a long racing preparation. They are hotii good hon-'es, however, and it may be as well to wad and see the results of their efforts during the next week or two, when (hey will both have the opportunity of demonstrating their form in public.

The Lightweights. 'l'lie nine-stone division do not read very invitingly on their form. Umtali, however, as a jumper nnd n stayer, is worthy of consideration. His form last National fheetingwus pretty good, though he fell in the big event. He ran a creditable race .in the Wellington Steeplechase. Battleground and High Speed might be lightweight possibles also, and Night Parade at the meeting last August showed a lot of promise. First National Attempt.

Of those that may be labelled dangerous, neither Diamond nor Allegretto has yet attempted the big race, while Allegretto is untried over the Riecarton country. The theory has long since been exploded, however, that a horse has to have previous experience over National country to win. Diamond ran there last year and a good line is provided through Makeup. They met :in the Enfield Steeple-

Billy Boy (5th) ... ... 11.3 11.5 Forest Glow ... 10.8 10.3 Diamond (1st) .;... ... 10.4 10.13 1’uhu (3rd) ... 9.10 9.6 Dunmure (2nd) ... 9.9 ... 9.4 9.5 9.0 ... 9.0 9.3 Umtali (4th) ... 9.0 9.0

Diamond ......... July ... 11.5 G.N. 10.13 Billy Boy (1st) ... 11.1 11.5 KOVPRt irloW .* ... 10.6 Dunmure (4th) .... ... 10.1 9.5 I’ahu (3rd) ... ■ 9.11 9.6 JIanawafu (2nd) ... 9.6 0.3 Paiuisnng .. .' ... 9.0 9.0 Umtali ■ ... .9.0 9.0