IT'S A LONG WAY HOME

NZ Truth, Issue 1080, 12 August 1926, Page 11

IT'S A LONG WAY HOME

Ngata Stands Out In Third Leg <0f Grand National Treble

Prom start to finish of the Grand National Hurdles is (a, long way, and many a horse that jumps off with the best of intentions fails to carry them into effect. ,

ccarton the piece-de-resistance is the Grand National Hurdles, run over a course which is described as "about two and a half miles." It would be nearer tlle raarl^ to say it was two miles and five furTne field ' is ft good one, both m quality and quantity, and the race will no doubt be thrilling. \ .

It will be interesting if anything happens to Ngata m the running, but should the big gelding do everything right Jim Bull should win his first National Hurdles. ;'.• Ever since the weights Ngata has been the favorite and he is going to end up such. • ■ His weight, 11.9, is a bis burden, but he is built the right way to carry it: And what beats him will win. Nukumai is not spoken of much, but anywhere near his best he would be a nuisance. Landbird passed the Steeplechase by m preference for this race. His- last run over the battens was at Ellerslie when he won the Northern. ' Comical was never better and he will be there for most of the trip. Just whether he will run out the last bit is exercising many minds. . There is no reason why he should fail to run on. .

Frisco Mail and Listening *Post are the hopes of the south. , i After his win 'at the hunt meeting Listening Post came into favor and he will be well supported to-day, but it is hard to see a horse with so little experience over fences winnir/g the jump> ing blue riband of the wluter. Frisco Mail should be 'able to beat Listening Post, but how he will get on with the best of the Nar£h Islanders ia another matter. ' Black Cruiser has rwv chance on .his hunt running, but perjiaps It will be ! just as well to forget fthat and return ,, to his second to Zircott at Trentham,' Dubious is not fancied, though the ground will "be to his liking, while (Viaunga is sure to catch a few stray tickets. With only, one race into him he. does not read a likely winner, • v Lucullent likes if soft, and the softer the better. He wild be lucky to get that sort of track. . Comedy Prince could if he would;, when he is m thei humor he takes some beating. . Now to Kawini, runner-up at Ellerr slie. He has pace to burn, can jump, and stays oru. On paper he appears the most dangerous one ! for the top weight, notwithstanding he . will have raced over big fences two days preY viously. ' - Crown /Coin and Rangitahi are the two bjest of. the bottom weights, and they should do best of that portion of the handicap. The winner should come from the North Islaxid, and the particular track upon which he is trained is Bulls. The horse is Ngata, with Kawini and Comical ''the, best of the others.