FINE HURDLES FIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20889, 3 June 1931, Page 7

FINE HURDLES FIELD.

THIRTEEN RUNNERS LIKELY. LUCESS STILL FAVOURITE. APACHE AND CARINTHIA. With an exceptionally stood field encased, to-day's contest for the Great Northern Hurdles premises to be a memorable one. Originally there were 24 acceptors, which constituted a record for the race, but Omeo. Mountain . Ic;*th and Tenakoe have been withdrawn, and Zippor is another who will be missing as a result of an injury received whi e schooling. A payment of £.'? lias to be :nade at the post, and it is probable that several of the lesser lights in the field will also go out, but there should be at least 13 runners.

Last ycai's Grand N a^ona ' Hurdles winner, Carinihia, heads the field with 11.9. Comparatively few horses have won tho race with 11.0 <r over, and only two have succeedjd with more than 11.8. It will, therefore, be re:ognised that Cnrinthia's task is a formidable one, and he will require to register a sterling performance to win. However, 1 e proved last winter that he has the stamina to carry heavy weights successfully 0.-er long distances over hurdles, and in vie a- of tho fact that ho has come through a thorough preparation splendidly he will ha' c to bo conceded a good chance. Wimer Two Years Ago. Mister G amp is another proved stayer and, with 11.0, he has slb. less than last year, when he seemed certain to take a. prominent part in the finish until brought down by Vako King at the second to last fencs. Mister Gamp won the race very easily with 9.13 two years ago, and he should aga n bo dangerous this year. Owing to a leg trouble, he has not had quite as much jumping this year as in previous years, but in spite of this he is in good racing ordur and has gained friends by infusing plenty of dash into his latest gallops. If ft r no other reason than that he is a truo stayer, Mister Gamp nnist be respected. • Make Up, 10.13, is a comparatively young horse as jumpers go, and possibly has his best yet before him. Up to two miles he has rierforned really well, and there is no reason why ho should not go a longer distance. Fe'v horses in the race have had a better preparation than Make Up. and his physical fitness should be a factor in his favour in a trying race. Another thing in his favour is that he is a very reliable jumper, and the only drawback where he is concerned in that his weight might prove a steadying load for a horse of his size at tho end of the long journey. "Veteran of the Field. Nukumai, 10.11, was the best hurdler in New Zealand a few years ago. and his greatest triumph as a juniper was to win the Grant: National Hurdles in 1928 with 11.11. Thtt was nearly three years ago and since then his form has fallen away a good deal. Nevertheless, he has run several g'lod races lately and is far from being a spent light, although it seems unlikely that he will ever return to his previous standard. There are a number of horses whose prospects appeal mere than those of Nukumai, who is the veterm of the field, but he is a reliable juniper with a partiality for heavy going, ami he might still beat more than will beat him. There ii some doubt whether Antrim Boy, 10.5, will run. Antrim Boy has somo very useful performances to his. credit in the South Island, but ho has yet to prove that he in a genuine stayer, and the lons distance night prove his undoing. Claremor-s, 10.3. is a young and improving jumper, who should prove capable of a very solid effort. Usually he stays on well at the end of his races and. as lie is bred to stay, he should not prove deficient in stamina. Claremore has not had a race for some weeJ:n, and he might have been all the better with one, although his ownertrainer is wel} satisfied with his condition. A reliable jumper, Claremore is one of the likeliest horses in the race to improve on past performances, and ho may have to bo seriously reckoned With' at tho end. Likely Light-weights. Glenstai. 10.0, does not- appeal in this company, and (Easterly, 9.4, will have to improve considerably on her latest performance to have , a winning cha:ice. At the same time, her running at Wanganui was too bad to bo true, and the fncl that she has usually finished on solidly in her races indicates tVat she might stay well. Prince Lu, 9.4. i 3 o. dashing customer, but he has always found two miles quite far enough and the extra distance is likely to trouble him sericusly. However, he is a sound juniper, and that will be something in his favour if some of tho others make mistakes. Lucess, 9.2. has been favourite ever since the handicaps were declared, and ho is expected to keep that honour to day. Last year Luc?ss showed great promise as a steeplechaser and. after a long spell, came back a few months ago to win three races over hurdles with great ease. Tho horses he defeated in these races were not out of the ordinary, but he won his races in the style of a good horse, and there is every reason to believe that he will add to his laurels this winter. Besides being an easy-running horse, Lucess is a perfect jumper and. although the acid test has not yet been put on his stamina, he certainly appeals as a cood typ'i for a raco of this description. Lucess will disappoint if he fails to make a bold bid for honours to-day. Purle de Leon a Stayer.

Apache, 9.2. is a South Island horse, who has had a solid preparation, and lie has answered all. demands in n moiii'satisfactory fashion. On the flat Apache registered several creditable performances over middle distances, and he hns also won at a mile and three-qun: - tei:B over hurdles. Whether he is a genuine stayer remains to be proved, but. as he possesses a stout pedigree, there is every chitiico that ho will. Apache is certainly not deficient in speed and jumping ability, and he should bo very dangerous if lie can r.iil the distance right out. Perle do Leon, 9.12, reads best of the other light-weifihtfi. A- good stayer nnd reliable jumper, Perle de Leon might have taken high rank as a jumper only for being affected jy various times by unsoundness. There is always a chance that his trouble might reour, nnd great care has been exer cised in keeping him going in the final stages ol his preparation. It is quite on the card! that, he will run a good race, but his chance would huvo been more highly regarded •if ho had not been sore after racing a . Wangnnui.

High Pitch, 9.2, nnd Master Lu. 9.0. ore other lig H-weiglits who might be capable of creditabhs showings, although High Pitch hns yet to prove his ability to run a long distance. None of the others appear to possess chances in a field of this description, nnd it in more than likely that Patiitnhi, Loving Cup. Hnk.moa nnd Pendavies may go into t!ic Penrose Hurdles, whore they will be more favourably placed. The race undoubtedly benrs a very open aspect, and the fancies are sure to tako a good range. The horses who may command most support [ire Lucess, Apncho and Carinthii..

RIDING ENGAGEMENTS. JOCKEYS' MOUNTS TO-DAY. The following is the 1 ist of riding engagements for Ellerslie to-day:— W. Pernio.—Senoia, Mashoor, Prince Lu. H. AViggins.—Catoma, Puriri Park, Gay Cockade. Lord Val. E. Ludlow.—Llandudno, Inevitable. G. Spinks.—Master I.it. A. Gilmer.—High Pitch, Quinsilia, Foxhound. R. Olive.—Dark Prince, Pnlutnhi. A. G. Campbell.—Scaramouche. A. Parsons.—Taneriri, Mannwlienun. R. Mcßne.—Good Iden. Tambourine. • T. (ireeii.—Seatown, Gold Money, Valcuir. I". I'll :>mpson.—Ca rin Hi in. G. A. Dempster.—Apache, Paris. A. E. Didham.—Black Duke. il. Giiiior.—The Jack Juniper, Principal, Cynthia N. If. S. Bagby.—Eaglet, Refresher. R. McTavish.—Corinax, Rafflight J. Csinmiick.—Wild Country, Vnladore, Standfast. T. Williams—Town Beauty, R. Miles.—Mister Gamp. E. Mackie.—Main and Antrim Boy. C. Gculsbro. —Lucy Rose, First Lnp, Eager Pose. A. E. Ellis.—Pewa. I. Tucker.—Copey. H. Gray.—Merry Damon, Awaken. Vandyke, Gay Lap. J. Sht.rkey.—Clnremore. 11. Dvlieu.—Wako King, Owairaka. A. McGregor.—Kuiruri, Desert Glow. Spalpiko. F. Foster. —Te Hoia. Jnlldy Karo, Lucess, Billy Boy, Landmark. K. Voitre.—Koznn, Taurun, Tetrarchate, Mervette, Te Money. , L. Ja::vis.—Nukuniai, Jiu Jazz. R. Syme.—Wiltshire. Pendavies. F. Bentley.—Prince Val. B. K<-eßing.—Kine: Ford. C. Carmont.—Lupin Abbey. D. O'Connor. —Perle de Leon. W. Bowden. —Make Up. H. Goldfinch. —Valmarie, Sir Mond. A. MoDonakl.—-Easterly, -Paiißpliu. E. Stf.nway.—Abbess.