AMONG BOTTOM WEIGHTS.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 21

AMONG BOTTOM WEIGHTS.

Those: below King Colossus do not at present make very decided appeal, although the racing at Levin to-day may cause a revision of opinion on two or three of the horses. Briar Root, Charmaline, Balloon, Royal Opera, Royal .Black, Monalof, and Spear Lad (who races in the same colours as Lady Pam) are due to contest' the. Levin. Handicap, and any among them who runs prominently and does'not earn a jebandicap may have to be. entered -in the. JTeilding Cup calculations'. '"■ . .

Two others among the lower group who are" entitled to a word of comment are Atholspear (7.7) and Shrewd (7.4). The former, van good races at Kiccarton, particularly in finishing. second to Ephialtes. in the Otaio Plate, one mile and a quarter, but he is not a good horse for the public as. lie. jarely manages, to get up-in. time, for the'main honour. He finishes well, but for the last twelve months has consistently lacked just the necessary, final brilliance when, pitted against good company. Shrewd gave promise of being a useful handteapper early last season, aud the best has'probably not yet been seen of him. Two years ago, carrying - 7.5, he finished second to R.abbi in the.Feilding (Jubilee) Cup, and last year he ran a good race into sixth place. He returned from a spell' recently, and at his only start to date this season finished third at AVaipawa. In rehearsals since at Hastings he has'been acquitting himself satisfactorily, and if this means he is recovering his best form he may prove one of next week's most dangerous lightweights..

•The acceptance ■on Monday will enable a. better opinion to be formed as to the prospects of the runners, but, anticipating _the; payment and to-day's running at Levin, one is inclined to favour the present' chances of Lady Pam, Spearful, and King Colossus.