GRAND NATIONAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 76, 26 February 1938, Page 6

GRAND NATIONAL.

AINTREE PROSPECTS. SIX EARLY SELECTIONS. The 1938 Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree, Liverpool, is only a month away, the date of the event being March 25, and already there has been a good deal of discussion in England concerning the prospects of the most noteworthy candidates. Royal Mail, who won last year from six others who completed the course, has been given top weight, 12.7, entailing a rise of 81b. This is not by any means a severe impost, especially when -viewed from the point of view of the horses who finished nearest to him last March. Royal Mail is now aged nine years. While his arrival at the post for the Grand National was regarded as a triumph of training for I. Anthony, because of the delicate constitution of his candidate, ho is believed, on his general appearance, to have become much stronger constitutionally. In any case, when a “delicate” horse wins such a race as the Grand National ho must be endowed with superlative racing qualities. RUNNER-UP LAST YEAR. Latest comment on National Hunt racing to hand pays a compliment to Coolccn, who a year ago was second, three lengths bohind the winner, under an impost of 11.4. Cooleon now has 11.8, so that, she has been givon a concession of only 41b from Royal Mail. This mare is 10 years old, and evidently sho is being well prepared for another Aintreo test. The third horse last year was Pucka 80110, whose weight has been allowed to remain at 11.13, and Ego, fourth horse, and second to Rovnoldstown in the previous contest, has lib loss. The most intriguing of the entrants to many enthusiasts is the oight-year-old Airgcad Sics, who headed tho list of winners during tho National Hunt racing season. In commenting on his weight of 12.0, placing him immediately under Royal Mail, his owner Sir Francis Towle, stated his horse had been allotted what he expected ho would get, and in his preparation for the great event he would omit the customary test of tho Cheltenham Gold Cup. Airgcad Sios is a brilliant though not orthodox fencer and good judges have declared that even if his stamina is not abovo suspicion his jumping will carry him a long way to victory. “TO BEAT THE FIELD.’’ In selecting six to beat the field this year, “Augur,” in tho Sporting Life, Londnn, named Royal Mail, Airgead Sios and Cooleon in that order, with Loyal Prince, Pontet and Brendan’s Cottage next. Loyal Prince and Brendan’s Cottage are trained by G. Beeby. They were both successful in good ’chases over part of the Aintreo country in November under good weights, so there appears to be.every reason for the assumption that they will travel well for the four and a-quarter miles of the Grand National course. Pontet, 11.7, is an Irish-bred mare who won tho Irish Grand National and Conyngham Cup, created a very favourable impression when she won a three miles steeplechase at Nottingham in December, and later scored at Newbury. The three last-mentioned horses are all eight years old. As in recent years, interest has been added to the discussions by the presence of a number of foreign horses in the lists. Battleship, on 11.6, is an 11-year-old American, and is is expected that France will bo represented by the Bix-year-old Takvor Pasha. Don Bradman, who loot his rider at tho first fence last year, but who was remounted and completed the course, has been given his former weight, 10.8.