National Steeples

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 739, 12 August 1929, Page 12

National Steeples

NORTHERN HORSES’ CHANCES Real Danger From the Novice HA\ IXG won at liis last four starts over the big country, it is obvious that Northerners at least have every reason to feel uneasy as to the prospects of their horses winning tomorrow’s Grand National Steeplechase with Lord Ranald in the way. It cannot be gainsaid that this gelding, little more than a novice, has a royal chance of adding to his record at Riec-arton tomorrow.

Everything points to the Canterbury Jockey Club having a splendid meeting this week, the racing days being tomorrow, Thursday and Saturday. On the first day the Grand National Steeplechase and Winter Cup are to come up for decision, while on Thursday the Grand National Hurdles will be the big attraction. The course at Riccarton promises to be in very fair order, providing quite good going unless rain sets in on race day. If they are getting similar treatment to what Aucklanders are experiencing now, and have been suffering, and not silently, for the past couple of months, then that is a likely occurrence. Fields in the flat events tomorroware excellent, but the jumping events have seen a weeding-out all round. This is not to be wondered at, for the jumping season has practically finished, and the casualty list has been unusually heavy. With eight good ones in the Grand National Steeplechase this should furnish a wonderful contest, and some great jumping. The position in this event can be summed up in this wise:—Can Lord Ranald beat Wiltshire, King’s Guard and Kawini? That appears to be the key to the situation. A start is to be made tomorrow with the Hunters’ Hurdles There are nine left in, but one, Birkbeck, may be reserved for the minor steeplechase later in the day. Gay Jim, winner of two races on this course a few' days ago, has now' gone up 251 b, and that will give some of the others a chance to even the score. Gay Jim is under a cloud. However, the opposition is poor, and Grand National, if he stands up, should surely be able to account for all of them, including the favourite. Mime and Barrington are other possibles, but favourites should be GRAND NATIONAL BARRINGTON Trial Hurdles Another nine horse field will be seen in action here, and when one remembers the form shown at Trentham by some of them, it may be as well to take that form over Southern results of more recent date. For instance, Amorist won really well the first day at Trentham. and with 11.0 went under to Horomea 10.7, on the final day, with mud up to the knees. It was only in the last bit that Amorist failed, and on that showing he looks a great proposition tomorrow. Carinthia and Gala Day are two good ex-North Islanders, but they may be too close to the top-weight. Thurnbell was unlucky in his one start over hurdles at Trentham, and will do better. Fine Acre is a splendid jumper, and he was running along with Amorist lengths in front of tile opposition the first day at Trentham when he crashed. He W'ill be a real danger if not reserved for the Jumpers’ Flat. The others are not fancied, although Apache will be watched closely in view of his Trentham outing. Best backed may be AMORIST FINE ACRE Cashmere Plate A big field in this event will see tho smart beginners have a decided advantage. Bonrose, The Dove, Honeycomb (who may be better suited by a longer journey), and Kate Kelly, of tho older division, and Air Laddie, Captivate, Desert Song, Grand Song, Great Lady, Jaleux, Leader, Revision, and Stately, of the three-year-olds, are the best. Frobably the money w'ill help to make this pair favourites: GREAT LADY AIR LADDIE Jumpers’ Flat Handicap Riders in this race are confined to horsemen who have ridden in hurdle or steeplechase events, and that should be considered when looking for

third to Lord Ranald and Fabriano nine days ago, and good judges who saw that race are selecting him to win tomorrow. Maunga is a genuine stayer, and he won in the mud at Trentham. Quite apart from this, however, he is in good form, for he ran well at Ellerslie earlier in the jumping season, so that his Trentham win cannot be regarded as a fluke. Matu is a great stayer, and if he clears the fences all right should gain a place. Fabriano is a possibilitv with his light weight, but he would seem to prefer a very soft track. Rangi Sarto is unsound, but he has won over tho country, and therefore has to be considered. Lord Ranald figures on tlie minimum, whereas the other day

when he defeated Fabriano and King’s Guard he carried 10.7. He has won all his races with ridiculous ease. It has been stated that he will not stay the journey, but with 211 b less than nine days ago he should surely get the additional mile, particularly as he is such an effortless fencer. Final discussions point to this pair being sought after on the totalisator: LORD RANALD KING’S GUARD With Rangi Sarto as the best of those possessing an outside chance. Enfield Steeplechase Of the seven left in this race Dubious was thought some seasons ago to be the makings of a champion jumper. He has yet to live up to his early reputation. Alaric has not been doing well over this country, but he has a lot of pace. Birkbeck went really well when schooled at Riccarton the other morning, and it is known that his owner fancies his chances. Birkbeck won the June Steeplechase at Hastings a couple of months ago. If started here he will be bracketed with Alaric. Bon Aryan has lost caste since he ran second at Napier Park a couple of months ago, but the country should suit him. Handy is a good fencer, and the two miles should see him as his name implies—handy. Kaikahu has gone off, and Silver Light should improve on previous showings. It should be an interesting contest, even though the field is small. Most money may be forthcoming for ALARIC-BIRKBECK Bracket DUBIOUS Winter Cup With no less than a score engaged, the field in this mile fiat race is not so big as last year, which is all the better. Black Duke, Royal Saxon, Otairi, King Balboa, Kaiti, Gay Sonnet, Gold Cure, Full Feather, Vesperus. Taboo. Zippor, Maui, Overdrawn, Tcheka, Prickles and Royal Game are some that could be named as possessing really' good chances in a remarkably open race, in which there is nothing really outstanding. The winner should come from among the thoroughly seasoned horses, and in lookjng from those backers may decide on making this pair favourites: KING BALBOA BLACK DUKE The following are the starters in the Winter Cup, with the riders: HISTORIC .. .. B. H. Morris ROYAL SAXON .. A. Tinker BLACK DUKE .. A. Didham OTAIRI J. Barry KING BALBOA .. L. J. Ellis KAITI H. Goldfinch GAY SONNET .. . . W. Bush GOLD CURE .. L. G. Morris BLACK MINT . . . . N. Trillo FULL FEATHER. C. Eastwood VESPERUS .. A. Eastwood TABOO B. Brodie ZIPPOR H. Griffith MAUI K. Voitre TOWN BANK E. Burns OVERDRAWN .. R. Csveney TCHEKA A. E. Ellis PRICKLES .. . . C. Emerson FIRST RAID, J. T. Humphries ROYAL GAME, R. J. Mackie The excellent first day’s programme is scheduled to conclude with the hack sprint handicap. This is the Avonhead Handicap The long day closes with the seven furlongs event for hacks. Membo, Shortly, Sweet Refrain, Red Boa, Grand Acre, Hounslow, The Viscount, Dumblane. Moy Hall, Royal Flower and Otaura Lass read the best of those paid up for, and in the light of recent running there should be little separating this pair on the totalisator:— RED BOA SWEET REFRAIN On Thursday the Grand National Hurdles is to be run, and the review of this contest can well wait until of ter tomorrow’s racing. At present the most favoured half-dozen are Mister Gamp, Red Fuchsia. Overhaul, Novar, Perle de Leon afid Mangani.

the dividend-payers. A few that can be supported are Overhaul, Locarno, Novar, Aberfeldy, Horomea, Lancer, Perl© do Leon, Red Fuchsia, Atareria. Fine Acre, and Elysianor. Actual favourites may be NOVAR (A. E. Ellis) RED FUCHSIA (A. McDonald) Grand National Steeplechase Eight good ones are left to contest the Grand National Steeplechase, these including last year’s winner, Wiltshire, who has now but BJib. more to carry. They are a cosmopolitan lot. Kawini hails from Papatoetoe, Wiltshire from Te Rapa, King’s Guard from Cambridge, Maunga from Hastings, Matu from Trentham, Fabriano from Wingatui, Rangi Sarto from Foxton. and Lord Ranald from Riccarton- J *-all from different centres. The starters with their riders are: Kawini R. Olive Wiltshire R. Syme King’s Guard .. .. L. Oulieu Maunga M. Nicol Matu A. Jenkins Fabriano . . . . , . D. O’Connor Rangi Sarto E. Shaw Lord Ranald .. .. W. Scobie Kawini is a safe jumper, and for this reason alone he cannot be left entirely out of calculations. He produced a fine burst of speed in a hurdle race a few days ago, and is apparently better now than when he raced at Ellerslie and Trentham. Wiltshire is also in great order: the difficulty in selecting him is that he may be in need of a race. He has schooled brilliantly over the country recently, and so should be in the picture tomorrow. King’s Guard was making his first appearance over the Riccarton country when h.e ran