GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 28

GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

The following handicaps have been declared for the Grand National meeting :—: —

First Hunters' Hurdle Racp. Handicap, of 40 soys. Once round and a distance. — Rangiora 12.7, Regalia 12.5. Warrigal 12.4, Lanncelot 11. 12.3, Scamp 12.3, Marangai 12.3, Qui Vive 11.13, Launcolot 11.12, Black Hawk 11.10, Mr Knott 11.10, Silver Grey 11.9, lon 11.9, Clarence 11.7, Exchequer 11.7, Hector Norman 11.7, Justice 11.4.

Winter Handicap, of lOOsovs. One mile and a-quarter.— Merrie England 12.10, Crackshot 12. J), Crown Jewel 11.13, Bay King 11.9, Liberator 11.5, Retina 11.0, Waterbury 10.13, Young Cheviot 10.13, Galtee 10.13, Zaccho 10.13, Beau Nash 10.9, Erin-go-Bragh 10.7, Aquarius 10.7, The Idler 10.7, Sir Robert 10.4, Yon Tempsky 10.4. Piscador 10.2, Count d'Orsay 10.0, Kilmarnock 10.0, Drift 10.0, Welcome Nat 10.0, White Squall 10 0, Samoa 10.0.

Maiden Handicap Hurdle Race, of lOOsovs. One mile and three-quarters. — Kulnine 12.3, Cajolery 10.12, Mrs Mullaney 10.0, Smuggler 9.12, Ki'lmarnock 9.11, Spurned 9.5, Warrigal 9.0, Chummy !).0.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Christciiukch, July 30,

It is generally acknowledged by trainers that the present is the most severe winter experienced in Canterbury for many years, and it is certainly the worst I have seen since my residence here. During several weeks in succession we have had rain in every 12 hours, and with that very frequently hard frosts of a morning. A lot of horses have arrived tor the National, &c, and it is about time that the public knew something about their work for the National and Hunt Club meetings. On Thursday the old plough, now supposed to be in grass, was opened, and some useful work was done; but on Friday, when Mr Gollan's horses came out first, there was only cantering round the centre, bar Kulnine having a moderate go over the hurdle jumps. To-day the grass (the inner plough) was opened again, and, to take no notice of the flat racers, Tournament, who is to be made a stick horse, went three times round, and he is looking very well. Worth, in company with Welcome Nat, covered a strong mile and a-half, the Grand National candidate pulling over his opponent all the way, and if Worth can jump well he will give some of them a "twisting" in some race here over fences. He has pace enough. Warrigal and Mr Knott (not Mr Nut) did half and three-quarter pace work ; and Mrs Mullaney went a couple of circuits, going the last round at a fairly fast pace. Merrie England, engaged in the Welter, accompanied Ahua in half and three-quarter pace work twice round, and Norton unattended did similar work, as did also Kulnine. Wanganui covered a useful twice round, Erin-go-Bragh and the Holderness gelding went at half-pace over the same distance ; while Crackshot and Catamount, a greatly improved horse, did similar work. Cajolery and Isidore jumped, both negotiating the hurdle jumps very well. Whalebone did not jump, but he is a " dandy." He went three times round at a good threequarter pace, and would not hiave snuffed out a candle on pulling up. He is in fine fettle. Booties, a good horse too, went twice round at a good pace, and tho grey gelding by Winchester and Justice covered a strong mile and a-half. Butler's lot only did steady work, Christmas merely cantering, and he is not over sound now, but Qm Vivo (Mr (iollim up) did very useful work tollowed by Commotion. August I.

The training tracks wero not opened on .Sunday but lor North Inland horses, some of which lnul had a bad time of it on board the steamer, aiul the little work done; was mostly confined to canluring lound tho centre. To-day, howovor, tho National and Hunt Club candidates were spun out at exercise, but a bad features of tho morning was that Sam Kingan got a nasty spill from Mr Knott. Some flat racers, not engaged at the National and Hunt (!lub meetings, opened proceedings on the inner grass, but t hefirst horse to work who requires notico was Erin-go-Bragh, who went twice round at a good halt pace, moving very freely and pulling up as sound as a bell. Liberator cantered, and did half pace work over two circuits, and Welcome Nat was sweated three times round, accompanied by Tournament over the last two rounds. Yon Tempsky did a strong gallop once round, but Crown Jewel, with the rest of Butler's, was only cantered. Mrs Mullaney covered two miles and a-quarter at a fair pace, and Kaimanawa did half-puce work over tho same ground. Captain Webb was sent twice round at a fair pace and afterwards cantered, and both Waterbury and Couranto were given good half-pace work. Commotion negotiated three miles and a-half at a useful pace, sin. l Nelson and Isidore went twice round steadily, while Mintstone and Caloola also did steady work. Ahua and Norton travelled twice round ut a good pice and finished up at top, both Unnid National candidates going very well and pulling up as fresh as paint. Warrigal and Mr Knott were jumped. Both came down at the double! in the centre of the course. Industry did good three - quarter pace work twice round, Catamount, going as quiet as a sheep, went once round at good three-quarter speed, and Booties covered twice that distance steadily. Merrie England was given a good three-quarter

pace gallop twice round, and Whalebone, a greatly admired horse, covered three rounds at half and three-quarter pace. The grey gelding by Ascot was accompanied by Justice in a very useful gallop over two miles and a half, and Cajolery was jumped, and shows every indication of developing into a really good jumper. Kulnine did steady work on the flat, but Worth was not out this morning.

pace gallop twice round, and Whalebone, a greatly admired horse, covered three rounds at half and three-quarter pace. The grey gelding by Ascot was accompanied by Justice in a very useful gallop over two miles and a half, and Cajolery was jumped, and shows every indication of developing into a really good jumper. Kulnine did steady work on the flat, but Worth was not out this morning. August 2. Though the tracks will not have recovered the effects of recent inclement weather for a day or two, some very useful work was nevertheless put in to-day by horses engaged at the National and Hunt Club meeting. The sister to Crackshot went twice round at a good pace, and Mrs Mullaney did a nice working gallop over two miles, while Wanganui covered the same distance, going the last mile strongly. Both Welcome and Tournament were given good half-p^ce work over two circuits, and then a lot of flat racers followed, including those of Messrs O'Brien and Butler. Of the latter lot, however, Crown Jewel claims an engagement next week, and she was given useful work twice round. Catamount, looking in excellent condition, negotiated three circuits at a good half pace, and Crackshot (Deriett up) covered two rounds at half and three-quarter speed. A good many excellent judges think that Crackshot's disposition rather than lack of racing capacity prohibits his success on the turf. Booties and Flintstone separately went three times round at half and three-quarter pace, and though Flintstone is not a horse that would be readily taken for a National winner, he improves on acquaintance very considerably. Erin-go-Bragh, the Holderness colt, and Folly were all giveu half pace work twice round, and Industry and Liberator covered a circuit further. Similarly Captain Webb went three times round, going the last two miles at a good pace, and Whalebone galloped nearly five miles at a useful rate and pulled up as fresh as possible. There is no doubt about his condition, and I think very little doubt in regard to his speed either, while he has tho reputation of being a beautiful jumper. Kulnine was jumped, and Merrie England travelled two miles and a-half at about three-quarter pace. Norton had Isidore for a companion over the schooling fences, and both jumped well, Norton appearing to be able to gauge his jumps more accurately with practice, and by the Natioual day I shall not be surprised to see him turned out an accomplished chaser. He went a bit low at the post-and-rail fence iv tho centre this morning, and struck it with his fore feet, but he made a wonderful recovery and did not lose an inch of ground. Commotion and Couranto were both jumped, led alternately by Nelson and Dhudeen, the latter piloted by Mr Gollan, who appears to be a most excellent horseman. In regard to Couranto and Commotion, Couranto is clever, but this morning neither jumped in the style of a Grand National winner, and it appears to me that Dhudeen is a better jumper than either. I understand he is a very old horse too. Nelson jumps very well, and Mr R. Ford ought to have a nice ride on him on Thursday week.