SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8316, 24 July 1890, Page 6

SPORTING.

THE V.R.C. GRAND NATIONAL

nURDLE RACE. The following is an account of the running for the Grand National Hurdle Race, in which the Auckland representative Donald played so itnjtortant a part: — The Grand National Hurdle Race, of 1500 sots. About three miles. Mr. K. Phillips's l> g lilhjrslie, aged, by Aphany — Rosabella, list, lib (0. Stanley) .. .. 1 Mr. .1. Kae's l> g Donald, SHt 51b (K. lleaton) .. •> .Mr. 11. Phillips's b in Priscilla lust alb (A. Forgusson) 3 Other starters : Corythus, Chandler, Tradition, Crusoe, Ulysses, Manuka, Freedom, The First, Yatapa, Pingara, Porcius, King Billy, General Gordon, Young Horatio. Petting: 'J to 1 v. Pingara, is to 1 v. Tradition and General Gordon, 10 to 1 v. I'riscilla, 12 to 1 v. Ulysses and Yatapa, 14 to 1 v. Freedom and Donald, •J;', to Iv. Kllerslie, to Iv. King Billy. From an admirable start, Donald and Corythus were first away. The tirst hurdle all crossed safely, ami Donald went out for the lead, followed by Yatapa, The First, Corythus, Freedom, and Pingara. The same positions were maintained over the hurdle at the judge's box. Tradition heading the second group, and Young Horatio already tailing off. doing round to the river, Donald ran clear of everything, the nearest being Freedom, Yatapa, and Pill, gir.i, and then a tcr a slight interval came Crusoe, Corvthus, The First, King Billy, Tradition, and Porcius, and after another break I'riseilla and Ulysses, General Gordon tailing otf. Donald considerably increased his lead along the river bank, and Porcius improved his position to the bridge, where Donald was ten lengths ahead. As they swung into the back stretch Donald had 111 lengths' advantage, the nearest to him in ordei being Freedom, l'orcius, Yatapa. Ulysses, Pingara, and i'riseilla, with Tradition in the centre of the field. There was no material change in the places on parsing the abattoirs, save that Porcius had again headed Freedom ; Pingara had moved up a bit, Young Horatio being quite out of it. Tinlast six were Chandler, Corythus, Manuka, The First, Kllerslie, and General Gordon. Freedom fell back as they neared the straight, and Donald held ft reduced lead from l'orcius as they entered the straight running, while Ulysses had gone up third, the next three being i'riscilla, Freedom, and Pingara. The dark blue jacket was six lengths from the ruck as they "passed the stand, Porcius showing just in advance of Freedom, and then followed Pingara close behind, Ulysses, Yatapa, Priscilla, Chandler, Tradition, and Manuka, the bust two being Kllerslie and Crusoe. In the run to the bridge the change ill the positions looked for took place. Freedom bad again headed l'orcius and Pingara, the latter two being even ; I'riscilla, who had lost ground in the early part of this stretch, making it up again, (ieneral Gordon moving up through the centre of the Held, Tradition also making to the front, and, with Yatapa, headed the main bulk of the tield. As they tinned to the hack stretch Freedom and Por ius fell away, and Priscilla took second place, followed by Pingara and tradition. As the pace increased opposite the abattoirs, it seemed for a moment that these four were going right away from the others, but in the next furlong Corythus, Chandler, and (ieneral Gordon were equally prominent. At the sheds Priscilla was level with Donald, Pingara third, Corythus, going very well, had run into fourth place, and then came Freedom, General Gordon, and Chandler while Kllerslie was coming through the ruck fast, and bidding for a show in the finish, and he headed Corythus as they crossed tile last jump befoie entering the straight, the three in front of him being Priscilla, Donald, and General Gordon. Priscilla showed first in the straight, but the mare was pretty well all out, Donald next her, going yet strong, and Kllerslie close behind them, the white and red diamonds showing close upon the yellow and black ones, ami the next were Corythus, Tradition, and General Gordon. Before they got to the hist hurdle it was evident that none of the last-named could catch the leaders, as I'riseilla, Donald, and Kllerslie moved some tour lengths out from the main body. As soon as the hurdle was crossed Priscilla began to labour for a moment, and it seemed that Donald would set. in front again, but Kllerslie had more in hand than any supposed, and in just a few strides the bov roused him up, and amid an impressive silence won by a neck from Donald, who had run a meritorious race, Priscilla being completely out of it. a length behind, tradition was fourth, King Billy fifth, Freedom sixth, Pingara seventh, General 'Gordon eighth, Corvthus ninth. Chandler tenth, the last seven being l'orcius. Crusoe, The First, Maiiuk i, I'lysses, Yatap.t, Young Horatio, the latter a long way lwhind. l ime, Cm. lOjs. '1 he net value of the stake was 10%sovs.

Some fault is found with the manner in which Heaton handled Donald, in addition to which ho dropped his whip at ti critical moment. NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL STKPLKCHASE MEETING. [BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] CinusTCHriiai, Wednesday. Some good work was got through at Riccarton this morning. Squib, who arrived from the South last night, was one of the first of jumpers to api>car, and covered a couple of miles at good half-pace. The mure is evidently lame, but looks very well. Catamount and \ v iutor went once round at a good strong pace, and the latter kept on for another circuit. After cantering in clothing Pieton was sent a mile and a-half over fences shaping very well. Hark away traversed a mile and a-half at three quarter pace, and Preston, who is not going in his best style, did similar work. Darnley and Leonardo were jumped over the hurdles, Darnley shaped very well, but Leonardo losesa lotof ground at his fences. Baddy Longlegs cantered twice round and looks remarkably (it and well. Triniolite, after cantering, finished up with a smart gallop over a mile, and Garryowen did steady work. (Jhainshot and Camera went a mile at half pace and then came along fast for six or seven furlongs. Enterprise has gone amiss, and is unlikely to start in the Grand National to-morrow.