FIELD SPREADEAGLED.

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 111, 7 November 1933, Page 4

FIELD SPREADEAGLED.

SURPRISE BY CROUPIER

Revelling in the easy going and giving his field the slip before half the race was over, Croupier won the Criterion Handicap pulling up by three, lengths. The victory caused consternation among investors, who had allowed the chestnut to go out at double figure*, and there was some booing when he was returning to. the enclosure, but it wis not more than a very mild demonstration. Croupier began from Hip rail position,

and, although just beaten away by Great Star and Cranford, he was up in the lend with Cranford within a- furlong, followed by Gtcat Star and Hurlingham, with Irish Lancer rafting up next.' Xearing the three furlongs he Sipped away, and after putting a break, of Six or eight lengths on the field he wan easing up ovdr the hist hundred yards 'to score with almost ridiculous case from Irish Lancer and HiicJinghani.

It was a great improvement on the winner's performance in the Stewards', and it is not easy to account for'it, except that the clearer air-might have assisted him. Ho wholly spreadeaeled his opposition, and it looked as if he could have gone much further than the post without particular trouble. There was" a contrast with the two previous meetings at which he raced, too, for at those fixtures his winning effort was first up, with a failure at his second start.

Irish' Lancer, stood behind the field at the start, made up leeway brilliantly, and after the effort of getting to position he was still able to come on in the straight and beat Hurlingham by two lengths for second money. Hurlingham was always there, and had every chance. The best of the beaten horses were Spoon and True Shaft, who had been in the; rear division nearly all the way. Cranford weakened into sixth position, with Great Star .and Silver Streak (never dangerous)' next, and Lordly Knight last.