NOTES ON THE SPORT

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1917, Page 4

NOTES ON THE SPORT

FAVOURITE WINS BIG HURDLES

JPOMFORTABLY.

,'• ft! TELKOMPH.) (From "Sir Lancelot.") /

\ CHRISTCHURCH, 16th August. Any doubt as to what St. Elmn was to start in was set at vest when the horses, paraded 'for the Grand National Hurdles and he was not among them. Flying Camp acted' as pacemaker over the first fer^ce,. where Sleight-of-Hand ■ took charge and got a good break on the field. At the stand he was well clear of Sir Solo and Marconi. Art fell opposite the stand, and robbed the race of a 1 lot of interest by bringing down Leonta and Plying Camp. . ".Rewi Poto, who was never prominent, also met with interference in the mix-up and wasjraHed up. At Cutts's, along the back, Sleight-of-Hand was sailing along in front with a good advantage, Sir Solo and Sir Fisher being his nearest attendants. ; Marconi moved up about half a mile from home, where he came to grief.' At the entrance to the straight' Sleight-of-Hand was going strongly in front, and it looked only a 1 matter of his clearing the remaining obstacles. This he did, and scored in aneasy manner by half a dozen lengths.from Sir Solo, who had to be. ridden out to beat Sir Fisher for second place. Bon Revs had a good, position at the start, being pulled in behind, and^he was not afterwards prominent. " He finished in fourth place. The, only other to -finish •was Te Onga.. Of the ten runners.only five finished. Sleight-of-Hand ppactically led throughout, and probably would have won 'in any case. He is owned by Mr. .Frank Armstrong, of-Hawkes Bay, and leased to A. 'J. Shearsby. Mr. Armstrong won the same race with Morning a few seasons back. He was very confident, advising all his friends to back it, and ■consequently the gelding was sent out a big favourite.' Sleight-of-Hand holds an unbeaten record at Riccarton. The riders of the horses that came to grief all escaped injury. MASTER STROWAN'S' STEEPLE^" CHASE. ■All the acceptors for the Grand National Steeplechase were pai'aded. Crib bore a solid. appearance. Gluepot looked rough, arid Kirkby and Brewer seemed out of,their .class.' Diavolo acted as pacemaker, and at. the stand the first time was showing : the way, to The Brewer, Nita being.last. From a spectacular point of view the race was a splendid one, all jumping perfectly. In the first round the field had closed on the leaders, when the stand was reached the second time the order being Diavolo, The Brewer, St. Elmn, Master Strowan, Crib, Braeburn, Merry Lad, Glueppt, Nita, and Kirkby. The fence opposite Cutts's' accounted for Merry Lad. The two leaders tired along the back, and six furlongs from home St. Elmn -took charge. Braeburn. and Crib were his nearest attendants at the second to last jump. Master Strowan put in a claim.coming 'to the last fence,. which he cleared with St. Elmn. In the run home Master Strowan drew away, and won by twelve lengths.'. Crib was four lengths away. Then came Nita, Braeburn, 'The Brewer, Diavolo, and Gluepot. Sandy Paul and Kirkby failed, to complete the course and walked an. The winner scored in a most decisive manner, making his third successive, win. Crib risked a fence about a mile from home, and under the circumstances did well to get third. Gluepot was never prominent, and evidently was not at his best; BANK OUTSIDER WINS WINTER , CUP. ' ■-•The 1 whole of the twenty-nine acceptors for the Winter Cup paraded, being a record field for the race. Between the official time of closing the totalisator and the signal that, the figures on the machine had been adjusted half an hour, was' wasted. It. was a good betting race, the figures running into nearly £10,000. Parisian Diamond, who has been favoufite einfa the appearance of the weights, retained that position. :He

was always woll placed, aild' when he looked all over a winner at tho disUnco King SUv, one of tho least fancied oE iho field, out him down and paid a sensatioiiftl dividend. Bramblotye was always prominont, and woa only boaten [or second pkco by the narrowest of jiwrgins. lip-Up, Sir Agnes, and Geovßo finished close up to tho placed hmwH, Wish ])o Vnl, who drew.a poe;tion hpxl. the roils,' was never prominent. Neither wore Johnny Walker, Prince Delaware, Probation, or Thoughtful, tho other Trentham - representatives. Tho winner is one of the Martian tribe,'.- Ho lias beon racing.a good niiniy afMonfv and this was his most important win to date W. Bell, Who rode tho winner, has not been much in tho siukllo lately.

TITO MINOR KVENTS.

All xmrtod for Mio Hunt Club Cup oxoopt Handsome Boy. Tho Feildingmvnoil lit)iixn. wiw rushed to tho front, lci">ins by Iweiitv lengths'at the stand, wliew Iw> ■ tunieil over «t tho second fciit'e of .tho (.louhle. Six furlongs from home Hurgi'sa \ tmd Knupokonui} wero showiiw j<jj't oieur of Wellwood. Kaupoltomii »nil Wollwoort cleared tho lust tonort (.oßolhor, tho forraor-' winning by hull' a loiirlli will) ii little in hand. Qo\Aia\ Biitlcrlly iiiul BurgMS wero tho only othovf u\ finish. j A\\ Iho (iccoptow started in the Trial Bvmllfts, Oowpuhioji set a solid pnco with St. Cui'io.Cor ft mile and n-quarler, wlion MiVh Sat ion moved up. At tho laat fence Sim Sebastian, also. closed on tho lenders. In tho run homo Dionysius finished, well under'punishment and won hy\two lengths. San Sebastian was fourth. Mount Victoria' finished sixth. Golden Glado loet his rider at half-way,. Don Francisco and Salathiel; failed to complete tho course:" Dionysius, who* was among tho ■ unsuccessful candidates at Trentham, ran his best race to date today.

Grand. Idea, Thames, Ascalaphus, and Kimbolton were withdrawn from tho Avonhead Handicap. Rajput, who finished well back, and Red Cent (fourth) appeared woll placed in the early part of the race, which was run on the straight course. A slashing finish took place between Euripos, a stable-mate of Dionysius, and Mine Sweeper. Euripos was placed- on the concluding day at Trentham, and scored his first win today. '. Rewanga finished just behind tho placed horses on the rails. Kilkee carried more than half the money invested on the race. -He never got out of tho ruck. " • ■^ '

Handsome Boy was 'the only withdrawal from the E'nfield Steeplechase, in which Ranza was saddled vp v again. Tauira was made a good favourite. Tho Trentham representative, Coalition, fell at the first fence. Ranza got over the stand double. safely, but ran off at Cutts's. This left Stone Ginger in charge, with Paremata and the favourite next. Jumping the remaining obstacles safely, •• Stone Ginger won by four lengths. Tauira was ridden behind, and was never closer than third, in which position he passed the post. Kew, who finished fourth, was the only other to complete the course. . Stone Ginger was successful in the same race .three or four years ago. ■ He is trained at Oamaru. . ■ I Scratchiags for the' Stunner Handicap, the concluding event, reduced' the. starters to twelve. Killard, one of the Kilbroney tribe, Ascalaphus, and Hythread took part in a slashing finish. Killard, who let Ms supporters d.own at Trentham in the autumn, carriee the colours of his breeder, Mr. J. B. Reid.