LIVERPOOL NATIONAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 24 March 1939, Page 12

LIVERPOOL NATIONAL.

AINTREE’S BIG RACE

AN AMERICAN CHALLENGE.

England’s great cross-country horseracing event, the Grand National Steeplechase, was set down for decision at Aintree to-day. The result will be received in New Zealand to-morrow and will appear in the “Standard.” Writing of the big event in tho London News-Chroniclc, lately, Captain llcatli stated : “When the Grand National is run over its 30 jumps and four-and-a-half miles of testing country, there is the big possibility that another record may be made; Mrs Marion Scott, the American owner, who scored last year with Battleship, may win again, this time with War Vessel. That is just one of the potential happenings that makes the race such a thrilling affair in prospect. There is, after all, no event quite like it. “It costs £IOO to run a. horse and, at a rough estimate, the race will be worth £IO,OOO to this year’s winner. Battleship is one of the few entire horses to have won tho ‘Liverpool.’ War Vessel is by tho same sire as Battleship, being one of the progeny of Man o’ War. War Vessel knows his way over the Aintrco course, as he won the Valentine ’Chase last November.”

Mrs C. Evans acquired Royal Mail (another entrant) ten months ago at public auction for 600gns. Now the ten-year-old is rated the best of the Grand National entries. The famous black, who won the National in 1937, has been given 12st. 71b. —Blb more than he carried when lie won. It is apparently the view of tho Aintree handicapper that Royal Mail is hotter than he was. He has indeed a. formidable task this year. Last March Royal Mail broke a blood vessel at tile Canal turn and had to be pulled lip. Ho carried top weight then, and since has won a gruelling race in the mud at Leicester. Sir Francis Towle has entered the flying Airgoad Sios who, in view of his performances this season, had almost been regarded as an automatic top-weight at Aintree. He fell last year when leading. He is a brilliant steeplechaser over three miles, and has twice beaten Royal Mail.

Next comes the Irish steeplechaser. Royal Danieli, who last year won tho race everywhere but in the last stride, when he went under to Battleship. “But Royal Danielie had his ehanc twelve mouths ago, and those gods who look after equine providence at Ainlroo never (or very rarely) bestow their beneficent. smiles twice running. I fancy that Royal Danieli has had his big opportunity and lost it,” writes Captain Heath. “A horse in whom I am much interested is Savon, trained at Newmarket bv Walter Earl, who has just taken over tho big responsibility of handling Lord Derbv’s flat racers. Savon is a champion in the making. Workman sets us a problem, for he lives up to his name, and I would an soon hack him to get round as any horse I could mention. Yob there is over that

‘speed-from-the-last’ factor which may find him out. “Ihero is one called MaemofTat whom I expect to see run well, for lie is a rare hardy sort; has done well at Aintree once and I am told he is galloped over ‘fierce’ country in Ilia Border neighbourhood. lie is really a hunter, am! there are otliers who come into tliis category, for instance, that great stayer, St. George 11. . “The last-named must have a paragraph all to himself, lie won tho National Hunt Steeplechase at Cheltenham, has won another race there over four miles, and in January scored with ease over a 6imilar distance at Gatwick —a really testing course where the substitute Nationals were staged during the War. St. George II makes a tremendous appeal to tho crowd for the j reason that lie is a proved stayer and a jumper who makes nary a mistake. The expert is less inclined to believe in him. La Touche comes from tho Royal Mail stable, and I suppose some misguided folk will be on Marconi because he has run for three reigning monarehs, though you want better recommendations than that to win a National 1 “I must put in a really good word for Tome Willow. A nice typo this, and one who has tile sense to steer clear of accidents—this counts a lot over Liverpool. “Wien I was at Aintree in the fall of last year I saw' a race won by Rockquilla. I went away very much impressed. I think this horse, who is trained by Bceby and ow nod by Lord Bicester, is the one who may will. And I am bold enough to suggest Workman, Tome Willow, War Vessel, Savon and Invcrsible ns those who may be next best. Ono of the chief reasons for failure in a Grand National is lack of stamina.” The French challenge is represented by Montrejeau IX, who has shown up well in England. Under Bid is jointly owned by Lord Derby and Captain Humphrey do ’Fra fiord, and is trained by Captain Whitaker. Sir W. Chilcott’s grand jumper, Dunliill Castle, who fell in 1938. is entered again, and, in view of recent fine weightcarrying performances ranks high in the handicap. In addition to Royal Danieli and Workman, Irish stables are represented by West Point., and the Galway Plato Winner, Svmaetllis, now owned and trained in England.