GRAND NATIONAL MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26232, 16 August 1946, Page 10

GRAND NATIONAL MEETING

FIELDS FOR CONCLUDING DAY

LEIGH BARTON A PROSPECT

PAGE’S RAID IN STEEPLECHASE

(Special)- CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 15. The fpllowing are brackets in the Redcliffs Handicap on Saturday:— Beau Ideal and Comic Paper, Liquidate and Denim, Kyron and Majestic Fox, Sir Tague and Avonbridge, Baracha and Armont. H. A. Anderton and A. I. Powell went back to Wingatui early in the week with horses who are not to race again on the trip, but they have returned to see other members of their teams through Saturday’s engagements.

Noble Robert shaped better than Night Prince over a round of'the schooling fences, which Appeasement and Penetration jummped carefully. British Mint and Big Top were mates over two hurdles. The Sydenham Hurdles

When a horse leads for seven furlongs or rhore in a mile race an opinion is sometimes formed that he would do better in a race over seven furlongs. If a horse leads for over six furlongs in a seven furlong race then the opinion is formed that six furlongs would be the best distance for him. The same more or less fallacious opinion is held about horses racing over any distance from a half mile sprint to a two-mile journey. It should not be overlooked that in many cases pace-makers are only out in front on sufferance and are measured off at the business end. In fact, the pace-maker is seldom the winner. In the Grand National Hurdles Prize Ring was one of the pace-makers but he commenced to drop back over half a mile from home and at the finish was about last in a strung-out field. Test Pilot, Dumbo, Brantome, Prince Dolomite, Blue Title, and Sphere all finished in front of Prize Ring, who, as a well-beaten horse over the distance, was probably allowed to ease up. In the Sydenham Hurdles Prize Ring meets The Monarch, Test Pilot, Blue Title, Dumbo, and British Mint on 21b worse terms. Prince Dolomite is met on ,41b and Better Man on 31b worse terms. It is thus assumed that Prize Ring will beat those named over two miles. Hunting Mac, who fell at the first hurdle, is met on 81b better terms. Hunting Mac 10.8 won the Longbeach Hurdles from Sphere 9.0, Test Pilot 10.7, and Prince Dolomite 10.0. Prior to racing at Riccarton Hunting Mac had shown good form over two miles, including a beating administered to Bramble Song .when giving 21b/ Hunting Mac had 31b more in the Sydenham Hurdles than he carried in the Longbeach Hurdles and a little less than an extra two furlongs to cover. He meets Sphere on 71b, Test Pilot, Buie Title, and The Monarch on 61b worse terms, and Dumbo on 61b worse terms when compared with the Grand National Hurdle figures. With Bramble Song and Boolamskee out of the way Test Pilot (third) is well treated in meeting Dumbo (fourth) on the same terms. Those in favour may be Prize Ring, Hunting Mac, Dumbo, and Test Pilot. The Probable Favourites The following may be among those in favour for their engagements tomorrow:—

Gold Lance has been lame this week, and it seems doubtful if he will be able to race on Saturday. Indian Sign was lame after his work this morning. His trainer, T. R. George, said he would improve during . the day. and probably would be able to start- in the Lincoln Steeplechase. though he might not last much longer. Leigh Barton came back all right after being ridden by L. J. Ellis on the plough this morning. He has been scratched foi the . Selwyn Handicap, and he will be started in the Heathcote Handicap, in which he will be ridden by L. J. Ellis. Lord Elgin, has not made any marked improvement. He continues to show signs of lameness, the result of pinching his foot with a shoe- nail, and it is far from certain that he Will run'on Saturday. In any case, he has done no work on the tracks this ween. The Final Gallops ,

The weather was fine after frost, and the outside of the course was in good order for this morning’s work, which was full of interest, a number of horses registering smart performances. Some fast half-miles were headed by Lowry Bay and High Ideal, 48 l-ssec, while Bridge Acre did 48 2-ssec and Knight Crusader and Lord Darnley 48 3-ssec. Gold Claim and Foxspear headed The Grand in 49 4-ssec, Robingay and Finalist did 51 l-ssec, Lovemorn went easily in 53sec, and Julius Caesar in 54sec. Tiger Tan took 52 2-ssec, going off very slowly but showing great dash over the last three furlongs. Tifox and Penicillin were the best over five furlongs in Imin 2 l-ssec, Queen’s General and Sir Tague taking lmin 3 2-ssec, which was equalled byAir Ace to beat Western Front and Grill. Others seen over this ground were Desert Fox and Revivre lmin 4 3-ssec and Avonbridge lmin ssec, while Money Bird was under a pull to register lmin 5 2-ssec. , : Royal Chance* set the main for six furlongs, beating Lance Wing by four lengths in lmin 15sec, a very good effort. Karachi was a length in front of Tribal Night in lmin 15 2-ssec, while Foxchase was much too good for Persuade-in lmin 16 3-ssec Bruce after giving a start to Royal Robe and Gallimaufry; finished with them in lmin 16 4-ssec. Good Bay shaded Griffin in lmin 17 2-ssec. Swingalong and Indian Dawn went easily in lmin 22sec.

10.47: Hunt Cup.—Spanish Main, ■Night Prince, Appeasement. 11.32: Longbeach Handicap.—Knight Crusader, Finalist, Desert Fox. 12.17: Sydenham Hurdles. Prize Ring, Hunting Mac, Dumbo. 1.2: Styx Hurdles. Tamerlane, Olga’s Choice, Big Top.

Douglas Haig was a neck in front of Burberry and Denim over seven furlongs in lmin 29 4-ssec, easily the best over this ground. Bitter Sweet was just in front of Sumra in lmin 31 2-ssec and Salary beat Bettermah in lmin 32 4-ssec. Double Cross beat Deficiency in lmin 34sec, while Red Glare and Spanish Main were mates in lmin 35 2-ssec-. Leigh Barton sprinted three furlongs on the plough in 38sec.

1.47: Heathcote Handicap.—Leigh Barton, Foxyhase, Royal Chance. 2.32: Lincoln Steeples.—Page’s Raid, Indian Sign, Roman Son. 3.17: Redcliff Handicap.—Gaelimanfry, Tomahawk, Deep Harmony. 4: Selwyn Handicap.—Lord Elgin, Bridge Acre, Grill.