THE GRAND NATIONAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 9

THE GRAND NATIONAL

REYNOLDSTOWN LUCKY THRILLING RACE AT AINTREE HOW DAVY JONES WAS BEATEN [from our own correspondent 1 By Air Mail LONDON, March 28 Starters for the Grand National numbered 35, and 10 completed the course of 4 miles 856 yards. Iho favourite, Avenger, fell and broke his neck the second time round. r l he second favourite, Golden Miller, fell at tho first fence, was remounted, and then shortly afterwards refused. Reynoldstown won, hut lie was lucky because Davy Jones, jumped faultlessly throughout, was travelling easily with a three lengths lead when, after taking tho last fence but one, the reins broke away from the buckle. The Hon. A. Mildmay, who was riding, tried to keep the horse on the course but itil—out reins this proved impossible. Ho had been in front all the way and never made a mistake; he was still racing on the bit and had not been asked for an effort. This surely was atrocious luck! Davy Jones' performance was all the more amazing because ho is a tubed horse. He had not jumped a fence in public beforo November. Lord Mildmay of Fleto bought him from T. Rayson, the trainer, for the special purpose of giving his son a ride in tho Grand National. So Reynoldstown registered an immensely popular victory, burdened with a weight of 12st. 21b. Major Noel Furlong both owns and trains Reynoldstown, and in place of Mi\ F. Furlong, who rode him last year, lip now had on his back Mr, F. W. Wnlwyn, a noted amateur rider who since Mr. Furlong retired, has partnered Reynoldstown in all his races. Reynoldstown and his rider and ownertrainer wero almost mobbed in spite of their escort of mounted and foot police, on their return to the paddock, but thero was everywhere a note of sympathy for Mr. Mildmay. Major Furlong said: "I did not think it possible to do it two years in succession, it is marvellous. AVo have broken that 60-year-old bogey." Mr. Walwyn said, " It was the first time 1 had ridden over Liverpool country. It has been the biggest thrill ot my life. On tho first time round the course I lost my whip and at tho last ditch 1 nearly camo down. Afterwards there was no trouble whatever. Ilie horse jumped perfectly." Early Thrills Tho thrills of the race started very early. The vast crowd gasped at the fall "of Golden Miller at the first fence. It did not seem as if Miss Dorothy Paget's horse was particularly wellplaced in the run-up to tho obstacle, and it was noticed that his jockey, L. Williams, tapped him with tho whip as if to remind Golden Miller of what ho had to do. Indeed, according to an eyewitness, Golden Miller made no attempt to jump this fence, but fell over it and then stopped on the other sido to afW Williams to remount him. He was accompanied in his disgrace by Lazy Boots, The next. incident was tho fall of Brienz. Practically 30 runners streamed away from the stand in a perfect light, and tile first horse to go in front wns Davy Jones, who had Reynoldstown, Double Crossed, Inversible, Avenger and Emancipator in a group close on his heels. Golden Miller was remounted, but after clearing a couplo of fonces with some uncertainty lie finally refused at Anchor's Bridge. About 20 horses completed the first circuit of the course. At the first fence in the second circuit. Avenger came down heavily. His jockey, T. Rimmell. was* temporarily knocked out, and Avenger broko his neck. The Canal Turn was taken with Davy Jones and Bevnoldstown practically side by side, well clear of everything else. At Valentine's Brook, Reynoldstown committed his first serious blunder, and it was touch-and-go whether his jockey was not thrown over his head, so Davy Jones was loft with a three lengths' lead, which Reynoldstown promised to close with a desperate effort. Reynoldstown committed another blunder, however, three fences from home, which left Davv .Tones looking an assured winner. Then the reins broke away and were hanging at the feet of Davv Jones between the last two fonces. Mr. Mildmay tried to keep him at the final fence by hitting him down the left side of tho head, but his frantic efforts were futile. Avenger's End Reynoldstown won by 12 lengths from Sir David Llewellyn's Ego, who was six lengths in front of Mr. J. V. Rank's Bachelor Prince. The time taken was 9.37. Other horses to finish were Crown Prince, Inversible, Provocative. Castle It*well. Double Crossed and Moorland View, with Comedian a bad last, after falling. The Marl, of Derby had a runner in Hillsbrook, and the Earl of Rosehery had a fancied candidate in Keen Blade. Fourteen amateurs rode in the race. Five of them were on their own horses, and two, Mr. H. Llewellyn and Mr. A. Mildmay, on horses owned by their fathers. The first, second, fourth and seventh to finish wero ridden by amateur riders. Tho race also had its tragedy for Mrs. V. Mundy, owner of Avenger, who started favourite. He jumped a circuit of the course finely and was among tho leaders when ho fell and broko his neck at the fence after the water. Avenger had had a splendid winter's record and was a fine jumper Rimmell said: "Avenger got too close to the first after the water, the second time round. He hit the top. This wns very bad luck, because up to then he bad jumped wonderfully." Tho trainer had reason for confidence in Avenger. In his winding-up gallop on the flat he had given Broken Hill 2st. 71b. and beaten him "tho length of a street." as Rimmell expressed it. Moreover, Avenger had beaten Reynoldstown on tho two occasions thoy had met. At tho third fence from homo Keen Blade, who had been jumping splendidly nil the way, lost his jockey, T. Elder, an unfortunate occurronco, as ho would certainly have been placed, for he was half a fence in front of Ego, who finished second. Totalisator receipts on the Grand National were £27,015 2s. This is a record for a race where the "handselling" of tickets is in nso. Total takings yesterday were £61,331 10s. Tho previous host on Grand National Day was £55,142 10s. RACING IN ENGLAND GREAT METROPOLITAN STAKES LONDON, April 21 The Great Metropolitan Stakes Handicap, about 2i miles, run at Epsom to-day, resulted in a dead-heat for first between the Oaks winner, Qnashed, and Jack Tar. Corona-Corona, who was third in the race last year, again filled that position, Details:— GREAT METROPOLITAN STAKES, About 2J miles QUASHED Lord Stanley's br f, 4yrs. by Obliterate Verdict t JACK TAR, Lady NuttalPs b g, 6yrs, by Jackdaw—Ellel t CORONA-CORONA, A. F. Davis' ch g, Cyrs, by Coronach —Piazza .. ..8 Nineteen started. Dead-heat fox first; threa lengths*