GRAND NATIONALMEETING

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 41, 16 August 1918, Page 5

GRAND NATIONALMEETING

OPENING- I>AY,

ST ELMN WINS THE STEEPLECHASE.

(BT lEIiEGBAPH.—PBEBS ASSOCIATION.), CHRISTCHUBCH, 15th August.

On the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting the totalisator handled £60,401 compared with £51,327 on the corresponding day last year. Balance of results :— Grand National Steeplechase, of 1500 soys; three miles and a half. 2 St. Elmn, 9.11 (K. Thompson) 1 7 Waimai, 12.5 (F. Plynn) 2 1 Master Strowan, 12.7 (R. M'Seveney) 3 Also started — 5 Crib 10.11, 6 Collector 10.9, 4 Coalition 10.9, 3 Yellow and Black 10.1, 11 Nita 9.7,-9 Merry Lad 9.7, 8 Zarkoma 9.7,. 10 Stone Ginger 9.7. Yellow and Black lost his rider at the first fence, while at different stages Nita, Crib, and Coalition fell, while Collector refused to jump the kennels double the second time round. Merry Lad and Waimai showed the way till six furlongs from home. St. Elmn then moved up, followed by' Master Strowan. Waimai and St. Elmn landed over the last fence together, but in the run home the latter held Waimai safe and won by two lengths. Master Strowan, who was kept well back all the way, was eight lengths off, third, and then came Merry Lad and Zarkoma. Time, 7min 13 l-ssec.

Enfield Steeplechase, of 250 soys; about two miles—4 Arlington, 11.13 (Stan Reid), 1; 2 Master Hamilton, 12.2, 2; S Paremata, 10.8, 3. Also started— 1 Moddite 11.3, 3 Bore 11.3.' Moddite piloted the field to the kennels double, where Bore, who was always handy, joined him. The next obstacle, the sod wall, brought down Bore, and at the following one, a brush, Moddite fell. This left Arlington with a commanding lead, and he won, pulling up, by about a dozen lengths. Paremata was a poor third. Time, 4min 12 l-ssec. An enquiry into the handling of Master Hamilton was held, but the explanation of the jockey (H. Lorrigan) was accepted. Winter Cup, of 700 soys; one mile—9 Bedford, 9.13 (R. Tapp), 1; 16 Comment, 9.0 (J. Olsen), 2; 10 Ibex, 9.3 (R. Reed), 3. Also started—s Volo 11.5, 4 Form Up 11.2, 2 John Barleycorn 10.5. 20 Lady Louisa 10.2. 8 Varnish 9.9, 11 Ascalaphus 9.9, 1 All Over 9.9, 22 Multiplication 9.8, 12 Thaddeus 9.8, 17 King Star 9.8, 19 Sir Agnes 9.6, 3 Cardrona 9.5, 7 Hydros 9.4, 18 Majestikoff 9.3, 14 Sardinia 9.2, 25 Multaine 9.1, 13 Fleetham 9.0, 21 Hiero 9.0, 15 Kiltess 9.0, 6 Whiro 9.0. Comment essayed to win from end to end, but inside the distance was cut down by Bedford, who won by two lengths, a neck separating second and third. Sardinia was fourth. Time, Imin 43 l-ssec.

Summer Handicap, of 200 soys; one mile—lo Leaping Burn, 9.6 (J. Olsen), 1; 5 Warform, 9.8, 2; 1 Ardmore. 10.9, 3. Also started—B Kincr of the Valley 10.2, 3 Primato 9.13, 6 Rio 9.13, 9 Kimbolton 9.11, 12 Bomb 9.9, 11 Point Blank 9.9, 4 Warmth 9.7, 7 Luff 9.6, 14 Melford 9.0, 2 Belgian King 9.0, 13 Aye Ready 9.0. Melford was first away, but was quickly supplanted by Leaping Burn who was never afterwards troubled, winning nicely by a length from Warform, who was the same distance ahead of Ardmore. Time, lmin 43 4-ssec.