RICCARTON'S TREBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 33, 8 August 1934, Page 6

RICCARTON'S TREBLE

CUP OFTEN PROVES TRAP

There has uot been a single occasion since order of favouritism of the runners was first published in the official record in 1915 on which investors have succeeded in nicking the C.J.C. August treble in one. That is, the first fancy has never been successful in the one year in three events—Winter Cup. Grand National .Steeplechase, and Grand National Hurdles. Records for the period mentioned show that the Steeplechase has been the best race for investors and the Winter Cup the worst.

The popular fancy in each of these races failed last year. Thurina, winner of the Steeplechase, was fourth choice on the win machine, and Houuslow, winner of the Hurdle race, was fifth fancy. The Cup was a punting disaster, as Polydora, the favourite, was narrowly beaten by Mount Boa, sixteenth choice on the win machine «nd thirteenth fancy on the place. Since 191 a, winners of the Winter Cup have also included a twenty-fifth, a seventeenth, a fifteenth, aiid a twelfth choice.

The fate of the favourite and1 the order of favouritism of the Winner in these three events since 1915 have been:—l Grand National Steeples. Favourite* frate. p ™K'Sn.. 1913 Fell.'",' . Xintli 191G Unplaced Third 1917 Fell Fourth 1918 TJiird ■ Second • '" • 1919 .Won First : . 1920 Fell* ' Sixth 1921 Won . First 1322 Unplaced Fourth 11)23 Won ' . ■ First 1921 Fell , -Tenth , ,1925 Unplaced ;" 'Seventh 1920 Second , , ■:. fileveiith 1927 Won First . ' 1928 Unplaced Fourth 1929 Won ■• First ■ 1930 Won First 1931 Unplaced Kixth 1932 Unplaced Fourth 1933 .Second . ," ' Fourth Winter Cup. , Favourite's Fate. ' ' F ~£n, 1915 Unplaced .-. Second 191G Unplaced Fourth -1917 Second..-. Twenty-fifth 1918 Unplaced ■ ■ , Xintli 1919 Third • Ninth 1921) Unplaced . ' , Twelfth 1921 Second Fourth . 1922 'Unplaced '.'.•'■'■'. Fifteenth 1923 Unplaced ' ..'.'-.,■ Seventh 1924. Second- . ' - Eighth ' 1925 Second / ■ .'''•■'■ Seventh !;i02(1.'-'AVbn . V .' ' :".' '.First.' - 1927 ■ Unplaced .' : Seventeenth 1928 ' Unplaced . Fifth1. 1929 Unplaced ■•• Second ;1930 Unplaced. : ' .Third . . tlOSl'. Unplaced ' .' ' Second ;;1932 Won .■.-■' First .1933, Second • ;.;; Sixteenth . Grand National Hurdles. :; Favourite's Fate. .1915 Unplaced- , v • Fifth; ■: 1916 Unplaced . Sixth 1917 Won v ■ ■ First 1918 Won ". ■' First • ' 1919 Unplaced ■ . Sixth ' - 1920 Unplaced Seventh 1921 Unplaced Seventh \ 1922 Third' Fourth 1923 Second Fourth 1924 Unplaced Fourth 1925 Second . •■ Second ■ .1920 Unplaced < Eighth 1927 Won' ■ : First , ■ 1928 Third " ' Second 1929 Unplaced Third '■ 1930 Foil ■ Second .1931 Unplaced . Eleventh . 1932' Third ■ Fourth 1933 Kan off *'...■ ~ Fifth .: It _is interesting to note incidentally how relatively few favourites have failed to complete the Grand National courses in the last twenty years.' Tim Dbolan (1915), Merry Lad (1917), Lochella (1920), and Cai'awock (1924) are the only four to have been beaten, by the Grand Nationul Steeples obstacles. The only favourite to have fallen in the big Hurdles in the same period was Mangani in 1930, but last year Prince of 'Orange ran off early' in the race.