KANUI TE PAI OR NOKO?

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 264, 4 August 1944, Page 3

KANUI TE PAI OR NOKO?

Best Prospects For The National (Dr Si. SIMUS.) Though tomorrow's Grand National Steeplechase will be contested by one of the smallest fields on record the issue between the four fancied candidates remains very good. As the result of good work this week, Noko has regained favour mid it is probable that he will be Hie favourite. He was second lasl year to ills sltibleiua(e, AngloFrench. Noko carried 11.7 and with only 3lb. more to carry tomorrow he is not set an impossible task in view of his good Easier form when be won a double at Riverton under 12.0 and 12,9. Noko has dropped his rider in Ids lasl two engagements, the July Steeplechase at Trentlimn ami Hie Ilomeby Steeplechase over the llicearton country last week. These were the first errors that Noko had made for a long time and the mishap ou Saturday did not jtppear to be entirely the fault of the horse. He was going better than Anglo-Freucli, with whom be was sharing the lead at. Hie time, and would have been first or second. Dozle Boy is a fresh horse who has not raced since lie won the Great Northern Steeplechase at Auckland on June 3 carrying 10.5. He was third in last year's Grand National carrying 10.4, being beaten a neck for secoild by Noko, the pair being .10 lengths behind Anglo-Freueh. Two years before, Dozle Boy was Hie run-ner-up to Astral Flame so he has had ample experience of the country. The fences are less likely to worry Dozle Boy tomorrow than the weight. He is a small horse whose best form has been shown under a lighter settle. Kauul te I’ai gave a sound display of fencing when he won the Ilomeby Steeplecliase it being his first race over the Rieearton steeplechase course. Doubts have been raised whether Kauul te Pai will run out the distance of the Grand National which is one mile longer than the Honieby Steeplechase. Probably these doubts were inspired by Ills failure in the Wellington Steeplechnse, but it would not be wise to discredit him ou such■ grounds. Kamil tc Pai was suffering from a kidney ailment when lie raced at the Wellington meeting. It was developing when he contested the Wellington Steeplechase and prevented him from taking part on the second day. He has recovered and bis form at the 'Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting was impressive. At no stage of his racing career has Kauul te Pai ever indicated tbut lie lacked stamina. Both ou the lint and as a juniper lie has always run bis races out well, except on those occasions when lie lias been off colour, and there is nothing to suggest that lie Is deficient in staying power. His finishing run in the Jiomeby .Steeplechase certainly did nothing to encourage that impression, and if lie runs ills Hoiueliy race over again he looks certain to win some of the money ou offer tomorrow. Slayer's Homoby Steeplechase performance did nothing. to enhance his prospects tomorrow, but it is worth remembering that lie was a winner as recently as June over the Wingatui country-and iu going of the most trying nature. Slayer, is a it previous winner over the Rieearton connirv and at W.lfl is down to the lowest weight he has carried for some seasons. A proved stiver and fencer, he can be afforded a chance. Though it is now intended to start Khiirja in tiie Grand National, there must be a doubt about life condition. Had it been possible to give him a thorough public preparation it is probable that ne would have started favourite. -No horse among tlie recruits to cross-country racing lias shown greater promise than Khur■ja, but a potential Grand National winner must be thoroughly seasoned and this cannot be said in Khurja's favour. At tlie finish of the Hoineliy Steeplechase lie blew harder than anything in Hie race mid li. unlikely that tlie work -Mrs. Campbell has been aide to give him this week_ would have advanced his condition sufficiently to help him run an extra mile. Khurja lg a grand jumper and (he fences arc not likely to trouble him, but be has to overcome tlie lack of seasoned condition. If ho should succeed tomorrow he can be acknowledged as exceptionally good for he cannot be completely attuned. Vahuitiia is another whose preparation has received a serious cheek. lie showed form at Ellerslie good enough to be entitled to the greatest respect in the Grand National, but he was in. trouble at Trendham and he has uot been sound enough since then to be given the necessary winding up work. It was not a good sign when his trainer declined to run him in .the Uomeby Steeplechase for fear that he might hot stand two races; Thei;e is every indication that the issue will be between Noko am] Kanui te Vui.