TOMORROWS C.J.C. GRAND NATIONAL FIELD IS NOT UP TO REAL G.N. HURDLES STANDARD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23022, 12 August 1949, Page 1 (Supplement)

TOMORROWS C.J.C. GRAND NATIONAL FIELD IS NOT UP TO REAL G.N. HURDLES STANDARD

(Herald Special Service.)

TOMORROW at Riccarton the Canterbury Jockey Club will stage the middle day of the Grand National fixture. The most important event to be contested will be the Grand National Hurdles. The field this year is not up to real National hurdle standard, as the virtual top-weight of 10.9 amply confirms.

There has been a slight alteration in the events compared with last year, when the Lincoln Steeplechase was decided on the last day, but this season this event is run on the middle day. The two chief flat races at Riccarton tomorrow are the Islington Handicap and the August Handicap.

HUNT CUP STEEPLES

Trial Hurdles, which gives him a show here, but he has never been exactly reliable. Quadrille (5), 9.3, had every show the first day. Brockie (8), 9.0, is a' recent placegetter. Robingay (6), 9.0, has no hurdle form. Sailor Girl <3), 9.0, came from w'ell back last week to finish fifth; might be suited by the distance. Thomas (1), 9.0. ran third recently, but was never a possibility the first day.

Night Prince (17), 10. G, has no recent form to help a summing-up. Homespun (6), 10.2, has had two successful efforts over country in as many Regular (12), 10.2, has a little place form on his chart. Specialist (9), 9.13, has not started yet at Riccarton; is awaiting for a firm track. Malapan (8), 9.11, ran off last week when travelling like a place-getter. Laindon (15), 9.10, fell at the Hunt meeting and a non-starter the first day.

Tikakoura (11), 9.0, fell in his last two efforts WOOLSTON HACK HDCP. Personality (G), 9.4, may be one of the favourites; was not a starter the first day. Ilobin Redbreast (1), 9,1, might be suited better this week by the reduced distance. Ncptina (14), 9.0, won a race last season when a two-year-old. Trench Fray (3). 8.12, won twice as a juvenile in the season just closed. Terminus (18), 8.11, won at the Hunt meeting; did not start last week. Royal Scrip .(7), 8.7, won solidly his division of the Cashmere Plate. Prince Defaulter (1G), B.G, is another juvenile winner of last term. Fyxcn (13), 8.5, won a division of the Cashmere the first day. Open Range (17), 8.4, is considered a promising three-year-old Chord (19), 8.3. an idea of last week, but could only finish fifth after having every show The remainder dc not make a strong appeal. but Slag Dance won as a two-year-old last term. GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES HUNTING MAC. (14) 10.9 won the Jumpers Flat, paying a fairly big price; is also a Great Northern victor and with an easv track tomorrow would have his chances enhanced. DESEKI IREK. (2) 10.7. has been a little disappointing of late, but cannot be disregarded. SPHERE. (9) 10.2, might surprise. YOUNG 808. (12) 10.1, has recent winning hurdle form, nevertheless the distance might beat him OUR GOLD. (3) 9.13 failed to do as well as expected in the Jumpers’ Flat, but this solid staver if it is at all easy tomorrow will be hard to beat.

IJgkit Tea (10), 9.10, is not overlooked. Diameter (13), 9.10. fell last Saturday.

Dark Game (1), 9.9, first start at Riccarton; has place form between the flags. . Tanga-la-Pai (5), 9.8, was unfortunately carted off by Matapan last week when going well. Sparkling- Lad (4), 9.6, has form enough to give him a show. Perhaps on form the best of the remaining lightweights is . Trencherman (14), who ran fourth at the Hunt meeting but nowhere last Saturday. SUMMER HACK HANDICAP Detract (14), 10.0, second last week In a 'photo finish, deserves a win on his consistency this winter. Ilormund (24), 9.1, according to southern reports, is on the improve. Sorry (2), 9.1, has just a rough chance. Beechwood (23), 8.13, is a long time overdue. String Band (19), 8.13, has not raced for over six months. Flibbertigibbet (27), 8.12, failed in his last two starts, which were prefaced by a second and a first. Terminate (12), 8.11, enters calculations. Elofa (7), 8.11, on Wellington form is not denied a place show at least. Snow Saint (1), 8.9. is a fresh horse at Riccarton. On his Trentham win he adds interest to this event. Marul (5), 8.9, since winning a few weeks ago has been a course scratching twice in succession. Don’t Listen (4), 8.7. was not started the first day; is reported to be fit and well. Turf Topic (3), 8.7, has not raced for 12 months. Show Boy (25). 8.6, has a recent second to show his possibilities. Military Chief (26), 8.7, might surprise. Victory Night (10), 8.5. last started at Marlborough, when it ran second to Cheerful Night. Moonlit (9). 8.4, has been unplaced in its last five starts. The best of the others might be Gold Mine (21), who was balloted out but has the right of reentry STEEPLECHASE PAGE’S RAID (7), 10.10. has 21b. more than he ran third with last week, but half a mile less to travel COLONEL SMART (3). 10.4. found 21 miles at the Hunt meeting a little far. However, he is a brilliant jumper and on that score cannot be discarded ELEANOR STAR (11), 10.2, fel lin the National. FLYING ATTACK (1), 9.13, on his National win might start favourite this time. FIRST OUT (6), 9.11, is no more than a place hope. BRAVURA (5). 9.8, fell last week, but was always well placed until then. ■ RED GLARE (2), 9.8, seems to have "slipped” badly. ROMAN SUN (9), 9.7, won at the Hunt and completed the course in the National, finishing fifth. MASTER PLAY (4), 9:6 as a rule is a safe jumper, but made a mistake last week. UAZSOULT (8), 9.5, was always in the call in the National, finishing fourth. ABBEY LU (10), 9.0, looks well past his best. ■ TANGA-TA-PAI (12), 9.0, is also in the Hunt Cup. SPREYBON HURDLE RACE Gold Song (9), 10.13, won his last hurdle start and was fourth in the Jumpers’ Flat. Pcruslii (12), 10.7, will not be neglected. Tlic Stormovik (10), 10.6, won in his hurdle effort. / Money-Lender (2), 10.5, was third lart week, which was prefaced by a win over the battens. Money Bird (7), 10.2, is not a strong idea. 11-Corona (4), 10.2, is not fancied over two miles. Grill (15). 9 7, dead-heated for second in the Jumners’ Flat last week. Arctic Circ’e (13), 9.4. is not making the headway in this department anticipated. Fairhome (14), 9.5, was second in the

GOLDEN REIGN. (1) 9.12. has won in all departments and is not discarded now

BATAL (11) 9.13, occasionally puts on a eood show

DAWN MARCH. (15) 9.10. is not a vei'v strong fancy.

GUNIHER, (13) 9.9, would need to imnrove on his Wellington form.

JON ROSA. (4) 9.8. is to try and complete the winning National double for Mr. W S. Goosman. M.P. He finished on wall last week to divide the second prize in the Jumpers’ flat and had always shaped like a potential staver. ZULU BOY, (G) 9.7, seems out of his depth here. DETAIN. (5) 9.3, on hrs good second to- Corineus in the W.R.C. Winter Hurdles must appeal, despite his disappointing showing at the Hunt- meeting. ROMAN ABBEY, (1G) 9.2, did not race last season. ARISTEA, (10) 9.1, might be in the money. HOMESPUN, (7) 9.0. is also in the Hunt Cup MINLON. (8) 9.0. fell at the Hunt meeting has shaped like a stayer. ★ISLINGTON HANDICAP KARTIKEYA, (10) 9.4, a very hard one to keep tag on. ST BRUNO. (2) 9.1, is not liked on his recent form. BARK ARROW. (12) 9.1. second in the Winter Cun, may find this distance even more to h : s liking; likes it soft. CONCLUSION. (19) 9.0. won the Parliamentary: is decidedly in the boom. FINE NIGHT, (27) 8.13 is not d’sregarded. although he has not come up to expectations. LEYMA. (1) 8.8 might find this distance more suitable than last week’s. AANGHAM, (13) 8.7, is one to ponder over; is reported to be verv fit and well. SIR ABBOT, (3) B.G, is in the right form: first effort over a middle-distance and a handicap event. NULLAH, (8) 8.4, has just a rough place show. SWIFT ROBIN. (17), 8.4, is more like ! v to start in the last event. THORNBRIDGE. (3) 8.3. has been shaping well enough to say that he mCht scramble into the money. lIELIO. (4) 8.3. ran two fair races : n his last two starts over short courses; a very likely sort this one.

ORTHODOX. (11) 8.0, is not fancied on his recent showings. ANGELL. (24) 8.0, is a hard one to follow. NIGHT OWL, (26) 8.0, has won at minor meetings. MERRY ROBIN. (25) 8.2. is about readv to reveal his best form again The balance, including SWIFT ROBIN, have been balloted out, but have the right of re-entary in this order; Swift Robin. Pandemonium, Ned Kelly. Peridot, Western Winner and Reveller. ★AUGUST HANDICAP JULIUS CAESAR. (2) 9.10, up from 8.13. looks to have bis work cut out, but the fact will not be lost sight of that lie likes Riccarton. DISTINCTION, (8) 9.4, third in the Cup, might strip even a better horse now than last week. SUPER FLIGHT, (9) 8.13. was one of the unluckv ones in the Winter Cup; must be hard. LADY MYRTLE, (1) 8.13. was second in the seven-furlong Paparua Handicap the first dav. CLYDE BRIDGE, (4) 8.7, is better on a firm track. SWIFT ROBIN. (7) 8.5, has drawn a 1 better marble this time and will enter calculations. | SAIEDA, (12) 8.5. has shown fair | form at the smaller meetings; was badly j a wav in the Winter Cup. MAGNAFORM, (16) 8.3, occasionally | runs prominently. LADY CHRISTINE. (5) 8.1, does not I appeal on her form of the last 12 j months.

INFATUATE, (10) 8.0, is likely to up set calculations. PLAYTOS. (3) 8.0, has done better aver a slightly shorter course than, a mile. WINNING CHEER. (11) 8.0, is an mitsidc lightweight possibility.