HAVELOCK STEEPLECHASE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 235, 18 September 1922, Page 6

HAVELOCK STEEPLECHASE.

FINAL GALLOPS AND JOTTINGS. (Notes by “Exchange.”) On Wednesday all Havelock will be early astir to sec the contest for the big steeplechase—the most stirring event in the Village since the big earthquake last year. An effort was made by Pussyfoot’s pals to have the “pub” closed for the day, but old Jim said ho can manage all right ,and will call in Uncle Harry if the necessity arises. Scotty and Mac, the local bookies, are doing great business and already the names of some of the candidates are written up for big amounts. Both arc anticipating a “skinner,” and seem to have some good inside information which they prefer to keep to themselves. The following is a resume of recent track work by candidates in the order they appear on the “krok card”:— Berry.—Has done plentyn of work i public, hut whether this will sec him » through this race remains to be seen. He’s hard as nails and has plenty of wind. Cooper.—The most discussed candidate in the field. Trained with .Toll in Improved Hodge stables, he hns been well tested. ITe certainly has gone back a shade of late years, but when the whips arc cracking in the straight. “Exchange” expects to find the gallant old battler mighty close to the leaders. Davidson.—Has done a deal of road work, but has broken no records. Rumour has it that he was “pulled” last time, but the fact is he dropped his lead bag and thus lost several lengths. S.O.S. will see to things this time. Graham.—“ Exchange” can’t get much information, but rumour says he has “good” backing, with a capital G. Heenan.—Did a final schooling gallop over Inky Brook and the Reduction Double, but opinions differ as to his effort. The Bowlers will spare no pains to land Erin’s Hope at the post fit ami well. Has good sports behind him who will “shout,” win or lose. Joll.—The hope of Improved Lodge The old fellow never looked better, and is fit to run for a Kingdom. He runs a straight as a gun-barrel, fears no ■obstacle and gives the punters a good run every time ho starts. Macdonald.—Hails from the same stables as Joll and Cooper and, later on, may be,a top-notcher over fences. For a while yet would be better kept on the flat. Malden.—“Exchange” is sure Scotty and Mac have startling information about this candidate’s track work, but they arc both “oysters.” Rumour says 1 lie is fast ami jumps really well, so he may pay a dividend. Mossman.—The favourite. The big fellow was somewhat hampered in his preparation by a slight indisposition, but his let-up from track-work has done him a power of good ,and Bobby says he is better than ever he was. Scotty and Mac. won’t lay him. Nimon.—Has done a lot of hill work, ami is very fit. Gets round corners better than anything else in Hie field and if he is not squeezed out at the barrier by the fractiousness of Heenan, Tennant and Berry he may be relied on for a clinking good race, ami it will only be a matter of “what’s yours?” Priest.—Being paddock-trained, this ’chaser may not be quite ready, but he’ll worry the top weights to the end of the chapter. Phillips.—This sturdy old fellow only needed a little sharpening up, and “Exchange” hears he has been walking to the Peak before breakfast lately. If he and Mossman ami Joll get the inside running, they should finish 1,2 and 3, but you never know. Rush. —This handsome entrant has done nothing in public since he fell in the same race two years ago, but Mac says the spell has built* him up a lot. “Exchange” thinks he may do pretty well if properly handled, but rather fancies he will lose a lot of ground by running wide at Plantation Bend. Sefton.—Very forward. The Village sports will not hear of his defeat. Always runs for the public, so is not much good to Scotty and Mac. The heads don’t forget his line performance in the Baths Plate, when he started a rank outsider ami after getting Well away, was badly blocked at the home turn, only to pull to the outside of the field, and win in a canter. Yes, this Hast-ings-bred colt should have a royal show, if the “books” don’t square the topweights to block him. Tennant.—Has done a lot of his training with Rush, and though more seasoned than the latter, also "shows a tendency to lun wide at the Plantation. Reduction Double may also trouble him, but he is very brainy and may get in the money. Turner. —Has the “wood” on some of the other candidates, and is being backed from a solid quarter. If this trier doesn’t get a place this time, it will be for want of knowledge of the course. The betting market fluctuates considerably, but latest quotations are:— Berry 10 to 1, Cooper 6 to 1, Davidson 14 to 1, Graham 14 to 1, Heenan 10 to 1, Joll 3 to 1, Macdonald 33 to 1, Malden 33 to 1, Mossmafi 6 to 4 on (full book), Nimon 5 to 1, Priest 33 to 1, Phillips ( 2 to 1, Rush 20 to 1, Sefton 4 to 1, j Tennent 10 to 1, Truner 12 to 1. ; The top-weights have been so consis- : tent in the past that punters are chary about supporting the fresh horses, but;j youth may tell in the end, and there . are rumours of big dividends. Any- , how, may the best horses fill the places. . Kia Ora. 1