ELLERSLIE "DOUBLE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 115, 16 May 1936, Page 22

ELLERSLIE "DOUBLE"

HURDLES AND STEEPLES

(Special from "Early Bird.") AUCKLAND, This' Day. Twenty sportsmen have hopes of winning the big Auckland jumping double, the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase.' This is revealed by the list of horses engaged in both events. Twelve moiuns back only three horses faced the starter in both these events and while the number may be bigger on this occasion the odds are. stni strong against an owner's leading in the same horse at the end of eacn event. It has doubtless puzzled many .sportsmen and enthusiasts outside 01 the province to find so many horses mixing hurdling and steepiechasing here, and particularly at Ellerslie. Perhaps the explanation lies in the fact that wherever in the province there are hurdles and steeplechase fences they do not .differ■ greatly in size, so if a horse-can negotiate the hurdles then the allegedly bigger fences should hold no terror for him. -■.-.. This is certainly the case at Ellerslie, where the bigger fences/are not at all formidable, the most -difficult being the two; post-and-fails/'on the hill. These in themselves are not hard at all, but after a horse has galloped up on to the hill he is usually

1 It will: be seen-from this table that several 'chasers have reached. a high place in the weights and yet are, or have apparently been, considered poor hurdlers. Valpeen is a striking case in point, for all his best efforts have been accomplished as a steeplechase exponent, his victories including the .valuable .Great Northern, Grand National (twice).- and Wellington Steeplechases, as well as the Sussex Steeplechase at Ellerslie'during the visit of the Duke of Gloucester. The disparity of the handicaps- of Royal Limond is also considerable, although not so marked as in the case of Valpeen: : It is with. Golden England that there is the most striking difference, for he is on the minimum-in the hurdles and has 211b" over that in the crosscountry event, an impost that is said to-be unpalatable'to his connections, who., are diffident about taking on the big event. • To date the Great Northern HurdlesSteeplechase double has been: won by Liberator in 1895, El Gallo in 1915 and. 1916, Lochella in 1920. and Sir Roseberry in'l92s. El Gallo's performance in winning the difficult double in two .consecutive years was an outstanding one and may never be equalled. The Great Northern Steeplechase was" first run in 1885 and it was not until 1892 that the Great Northern Hurdles-was instituted, -so that' there:; have '. been 44 Great Northern doubles .decided with only four horses winning • /the double at- the- one- meeting. .?• '■;-;' ■'.•:• . From this it will be recognised that the 20 "dbubles" candidates at the coming meeting at Ellerslie,/ opening on May 30, are up against- a particularly stiff proposition. The longer interval between the first arid second days this year,' from; Saturday to Wed-' nesday, nevertheless; makes .the 4ask a- little easier than it-has ordinarily been. . ",'"';;:---.x-A^-. : . -.--:.-■:

a bit short'of breath when the jumps are reached, hence the mistakes made by even .good fencers. There are 20 horses engaged in the two Great Northerns, these being the following, with their handicaps set out:— ' • , Hurdles. Steeples. ., ■;•■ ' '■■-.■ st. ib. st. ib. ■ ' 'King's, Archer .. 11 4 11 0 Knsovili io 8 10 8 Thespi3 10 7 107 Master Musk ... 10 4 10 0 Diamond ,. 10_ 4 .10 3 Wee Pnt ...... 10*3 10 3 '"■■" ■ Valpeen' ...-V..'. 10-2:.'; 12 3 Scotch-Xatlon V. 10 1";; ■ :-.9 u- ' Koyal. Llmond .. 8,13 10 10 . , Royal .Banquet- .. 9 7 "'-9 ■ S '' ' Pahu " ; 9 0 .9 0BopWaw .....;'. 19 0 ■ 9 0 Golden. England .. 9 0 10 7 Imperial Prince ... 90 90 ■Indolent ....... 9 0 9 0 London ..'..'.... 9 0 9 0 1 Manawatu' ..... 9 0 • . 9 o Spalpiko .9 0 ■.'.'. 9 0 Roxy ,. .• 9 0 9 0 . Woodful ...... 9 0 ; '90