NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 16, 19 July 1923, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(IT " lIR LANCELOT.")

: There are evidently no hurdlers of class about this season, in the writer's opinion, when a veteran like Gladful, ;who will celebrate his thirteenth birthday before he next' races at Riccarton, heads the list of handicaps for the Grand National Hurdles. Although Rouen failed at Trentham on his first appearance in «• hurdle race, with 10.13, the 'C. J.C. ■weight adjuster evidently expects him to improve on that form, as he has been raised 41b, ami is second on the list to Gladful. Followers of form may find the attached . table of runners in the Winter Hurdles, with their respective imposts in the Riccarton race, of some interest in solving the solution:—

••. In the writer's opinion, Poanui, a . young hortee, .:' and likely to improve, should again beat- Gladful. He is experienced, whereas Rouen is not, although he is in a, stable which has done well, with jumping horses. Still, it is not a prohibitive weight for a good performer on the flat. . Record Reign had never competed in a hurdle race before he ran .at Riccarton. He won the Maiden Hurdle Race with 12.12, put up the same impost in the big race, and won again. Coeur de . Lion ran second to Record Reign in both events. He was -ir the big race with 10.0, and would have had <no difficulty in winning next month if he was.in with that impost. Gladful •lias 71b less than he won with in his

two previous starts, but the writer does

Bbt consider he can reproduce that form. ■' It is safe to assert that there are. more horses in training locally than on any previous occasion. Local owners

have had rather a loan season at Tren-

tham during the term which closed on Saturday last. At the Spring Meeting ' Gazeworthy won the October Handicap and Kyoto rah third in the First Hurdle Handicap. At the Summer Meeting Laughing-.Stock won the Hopeful Stakes, Blackmail ran second in the Anniversary Handicap, Derbulede second in the Rua"pehu Handicap, Militaire third' in the Mungaroa High Weight, Ma Boughal and Bonny Friend second and' third in •the Maiden, Astinome third in the Metropolitan Handicap, Printemps second in the Consolation Handicap, and Solfanello [third in the City Handicap. At'the "Autumn Meeting Last' Crust ran second jin the Pacific. Handicap and third in the Plunket Nursery, Quest third in th« .Thompson, and Dominant third in the vßelmont. At the. recent Winter Meeting the only winners were Star Kanger ■and Blue Socks. The place money getters were Stream (third iii the Maiden); Solfanello (third in the Jutland), and Dominant (second in-.the Crofton Handi--cap). '.■•"'

Last Crust has been leased by Mr. T. i\V. P. Hardy, of Featherston, and will continue to be trained by J. Ayres at JTrentham.

■" AccepTances" "for the" ~ principal "events at the Grand National Meeting, also general entries, close to-morrow at 8 p.m., jwith Mr. F. C. Cother [secretary). Thf rising two-year-old- gelding by Heather Mixture—Formality in H. Lorrigstn's Trentham team is improving in appearance, and may be one of the early ones. ,The hall ; sister to Duo, in the same stable, is also going along the right way. Although Omahu did.-jipt race at Trentham, he haa been sent; South to compete at the South Canterbury Hunt: Club's' Meeting, to be held at Wa!shdyke! on; Saturday next. ; Local owners intending to give their 1 charges a race at the Christchurch Hunt Club's Meeting to be held at Riccarton

on Saturday, 4th. August; are reminded that nominations close-on Friday next, at 8 p.m.; with Mr. S.P:'Godfrey, secretary.' ■' ' -■:

-" The Sporting Globe "to-hand makes the following reference to H. {"■ Snork ") Thompson; who won the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Eace on Berrinbo, and is well known here. ■■ " After I won on Berrinbo over: hurdles at MoonCe Valley,, Mr. H. Alan Currie,. the owneiv de-i finitely engaged me to ride the horse in the Grand National. He told me prior to the race that no other jockey-had had the opportunity, of riding Berrinbo in the race. It was'at, the desire of the trainer, riot the owner, that Hughie rode t Ber rinbo in the Jumpers' Plat Eace at Mdonee Valley."., Thompson said.-tliat he had had one'of the easiest victories in,his career on Saturday. He never had a moment's anxiety at any stage of the race. The horse, who is always easily controlled, just went along steadily, and he had a very comfortable ride. Thompson was born. in.New Zealand. He came 'to Victoria about seven years ago under engagement to ride Tim Doolan in his' races.. The gelding was not himself. Three months lifter he arrived Thompson y/on the Australian.Steeplechase on Ungala, defeating Bonnie George in a sensational finish. He also won the Adelaide Grand National Hurdle Race on Pistoher, and- the Grand National Steeplechase on lolaus. With Saturday's victory, his National tally reached four , He won twelve races on lokus, and the same number on Pinon. Two seasons ago Thompson headed the list of winning jumping riders, with fifteen victories. In New Zealand he had a good deal of experience over jumps. He underwent a remarkable .prdeal one'afternoon at Hawkes Bay: He fell with Bratburn in the Bawkes-Bay. Hurdle Eace and sustained a fractured collar-bone and thumb. He did not acquaint anyone of his injuries, and later lnthe dayhe woh the Steeplechase on Soporific and the Hack Hurdle Race on Doon. • After" ho passed the post on the last-named horse Thompson fainted, and fell from the saddle through - Weakness caused by his injuries. Among the winners over jump s ridden by Thompson in the-Dominion were The Pole (who afterwards raced in Melbourne), Daylight Bill, Merrfe Guy and Fashion Plate. On Fashion Plate he won the Brighton Hurdle Race at Christchurch.

PlutS, recently sold out of xR. J. Mason's Randwick team, is now in the stable of L. Robertson at Mentohe.

Winter G.N. Hurdles, Hurdles, . 2i miles.. 2£ miles. .-...■ , ■. • ■ st. Ib. , ■ st. lb. Bed Gown (2nd) car. 9 13 •10 5 Penury Rose (3rd) :.. 9 7 '9 13 Poanui (4th) -.;...-... 11 0 11' 2 Gladful ' 11 .7 ■ 11 9 : Rouen 1 .':... 10 13 11 3, Royal Abbey *.. 10 13 - 10 6 ' Snake 10. 8 10 1 Tinokaha „......;... 10 7 10 8 En Route ;..... 9 13 9 13 Alteration .': .':. 912 911 Peter Amans :........ 9 11 9 13 , Militaire : 9 11 '99 War Loan 9 8 9 2 Matatua 9 2 9 *3'