SPORTING NATIONAL HURDLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1946, Page 5

SPORTING NATIONAL HURDLES

Bramble Song in Strong Favour

SPANISH MAIN. IN FORM [SPECIAL TO STAR.]

CHRISTCHURCH, August 9. The Canterbury Jockey Club will present another attractive programme for Grand National Hurdles Day at Riccarton to-morrow. The field for the big event is one of the most evenly balanced paraded for a long time, and several of the candidates will be entitled to serious consideration. Class is not strongly represented in. the Beaufort Steeplechase. which is for horses that at time of starting, have not won. a. steeplechase to the value of £5OO. There are several, good jumpers engaged, however, and the race promises to provide a (dose contest, field of' 24 is carded for the Islington Handicap and there are 22 in the August Handicap. The fact that Soneri, Leigh Barton. Nepeta and Sing Sing, appear in both races will complicate the position meanwhile.

W. Ensor, Prince Dolomite; W. Aitken, Piccolo, Tomahawk; C. H. Mackie, Kirkella; R. Heasley, Page’s Raid. Phil Boa, Prize Ring; L. Clutterbuck, Knight Crusader; N. White, Hunting Charm; J. Williamson, Slavonik, Good Bay; J. P. Bowness, Lowrv Bay, High Ideal; W. Hillis, Tamerlane; T. J. Boyle, Spanish Main; R. Page, Thomas. The fields are as follow:— 10.47. Aylesbury Handicap, . of £400; seven furlongs. — Robingay 8.12; Beautiful 8.8; Provider 8.6; Grand Melee, Rahine 8.4; Queen’s General 8.3; Bonnie Fair 8.2; Spring Water, Mestiza, Philary 8.1; Kirkella, Front Page, Royal Robe, Sandy’s Pride, Concrete, Beau Ideal, Desert Fox, Lovemorn, Wild Knock, Blue Hussar, Regal Lily, Thomas, Paeanism, Majestic Fox, Night Rank, Le Sonnet 8.0. 11.35. Sumner Handicap, of £600; nine furlongs.—Griffin, Lord Elgin 9.5; Douglas Haig 9.4; Alamode 9.2; Gold Lance 9.1; Tomahawk, Burnbrae 9.0; Wane 8.12; Bittersweet 8.10; Lady "Welbeck, Deep Harmony 8.9; Tifox 8.8; Detain, Manatone 8.7; Pandemonium 8.3; Sir Tague 8.2; Armont 8.0. 12.17. Beaufort Steeplechase, of £1000; about two miles and a half.—Spanish Main 11.9; Siglow 11.4; Roman Son 11.1; Page’s Raid 11.0; Rival, British Mint 10.13; Night Prince 10.9; Bronze Night 10.1; Appeasement 9.10; Golden Glow 9,1; Ring Scarf, Stromboli 9.0. 1.2. Woolston Handicap, of £400; seven furlongs.—Peter Theio 9.9; Lord. Elgin 9.7; Knight Crusadei' 9.2; Runaway 9.1; Frances 8.13; Notary 8.11; Air Lord 8.7; Winning Ticket, Special Flight, Finalist 8.6; Penicillin, Hart Royal, Revivre 8.5; Mysterious Melody 8.4; Avonbridge 8.2; Blue Orchid 8.1; -Kyron, Siegwood, Foxspear, Liquidate, Montello d’Oro, Soft Light, Comic Paper 8.0. 1.47. N.Z. Grand National Hurdles, of £2000; two miles and a half and 160 yards.—Brantome 11.5; The Monarch 10.11- Prize Ring 10.10; Blue Title 10.5; Hunting Mac 10.3; Test Pilot 10.2; Boolamskee 10.1; Bramble Song 10.0; Prince Dolomite 9.10; British Mint 9.6; Betterman, Dumbo 9.5; Slavonik, Sphere 9.0. 2.32. Spreydon Hurdle Race, of £600; two miles. —Beneve 11.6; Boloyna 10 10- Gold Claim 10.7; Hunting Charm 10.6; Phil Boa 10.2; Olga’s Choice, Bettermusk 10.0; Big Top 9.5; Cuisinier 9.2; Tamerlane 9.0. 3.17. Islington Handicap, of £1000; one mile and A quarter. —Longsword, Findon 9.11; Soneri 9.10; Foxhaven 9 6- Platform 9.3; Lance Wing, Good Bay 8.10; Nepeta 8.9; Leigh Barton, Honest Sal 8.8; Sing Sing, Lowry Bay 8.7: Foxchase 8.6; Salary, Broiefield, Piccolo 8.5: Swingalong 8.4; Lord Darnley, Western Front 8.2; Desert Victory, Flahuluk, Montosorrie, Revetir, Sedgemere 8.0. Sir Tague was ballotted out. 4.0. August Handicap, of £750; one mile.—Golden Souvenir 10.8; Soneri 9.11; Tiger Tan 9.10; Bridge Acre 9.3; Bonny Flight 9.2; Imperial, The Grand 8.12; Nepeta 8.10; Leigh Barton 8.9; Sing Sing, Grand Forest 8.8; Royal Chance 8.7; Piccolo 8.6; John o’ London 8.5; Dash o’ Dink 8.2;’ Kiloney, High Ideal, Cramond. Bay, Double Cross, Lexia, Julius Caesar, Sumra 8.0.

One of the most interesting jumping tasks since track work for the Grand National meeting-commenced was that in which Brantome, Dumbo and Betterman were engaged over six hurdles this morning. Brantome jumped to the front at the first fence, but Dumbo was close up to him on landing over the second, and although Brantome continued to gain ground at each jump, he never got away from the steeplechaser, and there was not much between the pair over the last hurdle. Brantome is undoubtedly a brilliant hurdler, but is ; inclined to take more risks than Dumbo. It was stated earlier in the week that Dumbo would not start in the Grand National Hurdles, but would be reserved for the third day. .After to-day’s- schooling, however, it can . be taken for granted that he will . be on hand for to-morrow’s big race, and he is certain to be one of the favourites. Dual Engagements. Of the horses with two engage- . ments, Soneri may start in the Islington Handicap, and will be ridden by W. Broughton. Leigh Barton did not work very freely this morning, and is likely to be reserved for the shorter race, the August Handicap. Nepeta and Sing Sing will also probably contest the same event. Lord Elgin is expected to race in . the Sumner Huck Handicap, and British Mint will no doubt fulfil his _ engagement in the Grand National Hurdles in preference to the Beaufort Steeplechase. The weather remains fine and indications point to its continuing. The track has firmed considerably, and times will be much faster than last week. Under the win and place system, the following horses should .race prominently: —• Aylesbury Handicap: Desert Fox, Robingay, Rahine. Sumner Handicap: Alamode, Lord Elgin, Burnbrae. Beaufort Steeplechase: Spanish Main, Night Prince, Page’s Raid. Woolston Hack Handicap: Peter Theio, Frances, Knight Crusader. Grand National Hurdle Race: Bramble Song, Dumbo, Blue Title. Spreydon Hack Hurdles: Olga’s Choice, Eeneve, Gold Claim. Islington Handicap: Foxchase, Good Bay, Western Front. August Handicap: Soneri, Leigh Barton, Imperial. Ridei’s for To-morrow. Riding engagements have been made as follow: H. N. Wiggins, Grand Melee, Special Flight; N. Crombie, Blue Hussar, Runaway, Foxchase; L. J. Ellis, Royal Robe, Detain, Golden Souvenir, Notary; C. Wilson, Robingay, Swingalong, Bridge Acre; W. Broughton, Soneri, Lord Elgin, Desert Fox: C. Stokes, Hart Royal, Honest Sal; D. Thistoll, Mestiza. Lady Welbeck. Salary; C. Bowry. The Monarch, The Grand; D. O’Neill, Boloyna; D. Mackie, Wane; I. Walther, Test Pilot; M. McClintock, Montello d’Oro, Pandemonium, Beau Ideal; A. Midwood, Olga’s Choice-, Griffin; C. McDonald, Regal Lily, Leigh Barton, Air Lord, Desert Victory; A. C. Messervy, Provider, Julius Caesar; A. Stokes, Dash o' Dink, Deep Harmony, Spring Water; G. Tattersall, Avonbridge, Bonnie Fair, Montosorrie, Imperial. W. F. Ellis, Majestic Fox, .Western Front, Soft Light; J. Nicholson, Sphere; P. Spratt, Beautiful, Tifox; D. Dawson, Appeasement; R. Collett, Bijantome; F. C. Cleaver, Dumbo, Nepeta; D. Stove, Burnbrae; . R. Caddy, Lovemorn; H. Ford, Le Sonnet; R. J. Mackie, Platform; A. McKerrow, Night Prince; R. Bradshaw, Sandy’s Pride; W. S. Bagby, Front Page; D. Mackinnon, Hunting Mac, Roman Son; B. Marrah, Night Rank;

Hurdlers Schooled at Riccarton [SPECIAL TO STAR.] CHRISTCHURCH, August 9.. Sphere was not very impressive in a schooling task over four hurdles with Big Top at Riccarton yesterday. The latter was in one of his best moods, and jumped each fence so brilliantly that he gained several lengths on his companion, who did not jump cleanly and was slow in getting away from his fences. There was an inclination earlier to fancy Sphere’s prospects in the Grand National Hurdles, but now that the ground has become firm- on top he can be left out of calculations. Big Top has only to repeat this effort, and also that when he won recently at Waimate, to be a dangerous candidate in" to-morrow’s hack hurdles, but he has not been very reliable to follow. Gold Claim, who is also engaged in the hack hurdles, was responsible fox’ a pleasing display over four hurdles. He has had three wins and ' several minor placings in hurdle events this winter, and in. his last . start ran second to Whackie at Marton last month. Latest Reports from Riccarton [SPECIAL TO STAR.] RICCARTON, August 9. Additional and amended riding engagements for to-morrow are:—H. Wiggins, Bonny Flight; T. J. Boyle, Boolamskee; G. Hampton, Wild Knock; A .C. Messervy, Lord Darnley; L. Hare, Queen’s General; Siegwood, John o’London; C. Wilson, Finalist; V. Sellars, Broiefield, Winning Ticket; C. Stokes, Rahine; J. Jenkins, Lance Wing; C. Carroll, Prince Dolomite; W. Ensor, Findon, Bramblbe Song; K. Nuttall, Royal Chance, Frances, Lexia, Sir Tague; W. Barr, Big Top; K. Hickey, Bittersweet; W. Broughton, Penicillin; J. ' Williamson, Bronze Night, Reviver; C. Mackie, Sumra; W. Mudford, Concrete, Revetir; H. Ford, Mysterious Melody; Douglas Haig; J. Chaplin, British Mint; D. Stove, Paeanism; L. Cluteerbuck, Sing Sing; F. Cleaver, Dumbo; R. Frame, Kiloney, Manatone; B. J. Langford, Stromboli, Grand Forest; A. Messervy, Philary, Liquidate; L. Walker, Olga’s Choice. J. Winder has not recovered sufficiently from his mishap at Riccarton last month to ride Bramble Song in the Grand National Hurdles and W. Ensor has been engaged. Soneri is definitely booked to contest the August Handicap, but a decision has not been made yet regarding Leigh Barton. If rain had fallen he would have tackled the Islington Handicap, but is now likely to start in the shorter race. Sing Sing and Nepeta are to start in the Islington Handicap. British Mint is to contest the Beaufort Steeplechase and Lord Elgin will start in the Summer Handicap. Olga’s Choice Sold [SPECIAL TO STAR.] RICCARTON, August 9. Olga’s Choice has been sold by Mrs. A. Kyle, formerly of Greymouth, to Mr. J. L. Cheeseman, of Wellington. He has gone into R. Wilson’s stable. He will be ridden by I. Walther in to-morrow’s race.