THE LIVERPOOL NATIONAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 6

THE LIVERPOOL NATIONAL.

GREATEST STEEPLECHASE.

BY PHAETON. Thoueh th» Liv»rr>ool Grand National Steeplechase has to take second place in the, matter of prize-money, it still holds front position as the greatest croas-coiiniry event in the world. Tine cour?e at Aintree over which the Grand National jg run " held to demand greater stamina than any race of a similar character in the world and th« last two contests have certainly established that fact in a pronounced form In the race of 1921 only one of the 37 starters succeeded in negotiating the course without leaking * mistake, and l&,st year only five finished out of a tield of 32 There was a great outcry against the 1 seventy of the fences at Aintree, and some I 01 me extremists went so tar in tiheir hostility as 10 use tue term sneer buttlicry." Various suggestions were made as to the Deal means ot keeping the " raediocntes" away and one took the shape in tins raising 0! the subscription lroui ±60 to £.100; Out it is held to be doubtiul if that will jplay the great part anticipated. Another suggestion put forward was tnat there should be qualifying races before a horse could be given a place in the Grand National field- That souuas all right, but the suggestion met ' with such small support that it was never f taken seriously. This years race will mark the eighty, fourth contest, but it has to be stated that there was an interruption so far as Aintree was concerned, substitute races being run' at Gatwick in 1916, 1917. and 1918 owing tothe war. j,. The following is a description of the Grand National course (given as about four miies 865 yds). which recently appeared in the Field: all 30 jumps have to be negotiated, and the course, which is covered twice, measures 2i miles round. The jumps • are are follow:—One and 17. thorn fence, Bit high and 2ft. thick; 2 and 18, thorn fence" sft. high, guard rail on take-off side 2ft' high, close up against fence: 3 and 19, thorn fence. 4ft. lOin. high, with ditch on take-off side about 6ft. wide and 4ft. deep, and a rail in front of ditch 2ft. hush- I and 20, Tail and fence, the rail being 2ft. Bin. A high and fence sft. high: 5 and 21, tame as Nos. 1. 8. and 22, known as Beecher's Brook, a thick thorn fence 4ft. lOin. high, with rail 2ft. in front and a natural brook about Bft. wide on the far side, and 4ft. deep-. 7 and 23, thorn fence. 4ft. lOin. high, with rail in front 2ft. 6in. high; 8 and 24;' thorn fence, sft. high, ditch 011 take-off side. sft. or 6ft. wide, and a rail in front 2U. high; 9 and 25, known as Valentine'* Brook, a thorn fence 6ft. high, with &'rcil in fr""t 2ft high and brook on far side; 10 and 26, thorn fence, 4ft. lOin. hi»h sad Bft." thick: 11 and 27. rail 2ft. hiph, » ditch about 7ft. wide and 4ft. deep, and 1 thorn fence on far side 4ft. " 6in. bin'h; IS ftiid 28. rail 2ft. high, fence 6ft. high* and ditch on far side 6ft. wide; 13. 14,V,W, Slid 30, a thorn fence 4t. 6in. hi«»h: 35. thorn twice sft. hish and 2ft. in width, ditch on ItW : off aid* sft. wide, and « rail in Ironist, hisrh; 16. the " water-jumn." 15ft in .width. In' the coarse of Grand National reminiscences in the London Sportsmen '.' Vigilant 1 ' remarked:"Perhaps the most remarkable instance on record of an inexperienced rider..'. as regards steeplechase-riding proving sue-; > cessful at Aintree was the victory of Lord Manners on Seaman in 1882. when. on.a ; :■ broken-down horse, with fthe elements ■ ; against him in the shape of a blinding snowstorm, he found himself fighting out ,the finish with Tom Beaslsy. perhaps the best horseman of his day over the Aintree or any other couree. j ,' Prince Kinsky's victory on his matt \m Zoddove in IPB3 was another instance of* V hnntinff man being thoroughly at home ov«fi:% a big country, and it is interesting to hear >> thai he followed to the letter , the advice."■■;. given to him just, before the race by »':.; sage of gTeat experience, which war: 'Fide v;; just as if you were out hunting the,first ', time round. After that, and not before; V: you can beein to look about you and see %| wrut the otVrs are doing.'" The race of 1904 will be rendered especi-.' ally memorable to New Zealanders, for ♦]i».'ijl: NntatoT peldin«? Moifaa, who first saw the; light in this Dominion, and who carried the i colours of the- New Zealand nportsrasn. Mr. Spencer Gollan, led th« fipld. home, and -0: he had 25 behind him. . ,'"'"::'-• t . r i The race of 19C9 we« a red-letter day for.?.! France, for Lntteur TCI., who hailed front ;;i aoi-nes the Channel, scored a vWory over » C; field of 31. and " the d»ar neighbour*" cer- * tainly relieved "John Bull and family" or a good parcel of gold that day.

THE FAVOURITE DIVISION. (M A. and N.Z. LONDON. March 20. Forewarned is now favourite for the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase.: Arravale is second in demand.