SPORTING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3937, 9 August 1937, Page 5

SPORTING

THE GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. PROSPECTS FOR TUESDAY. (By “Backwood.”) The C.J.C Gram? National meeting commences to-morrow, and is to be continued on Thursday and Saturday. Reports from Christchurch indicate that the Riccarton course is in excellent cider, and if fine weather continues there should be a very successful meeting, for there are good acceptances lor to-morrow, and a good class of horse engaged. There is no pronounced favourite for either of three big events, the Grand National Steeples, Winter Cup and Grand National Hurdles, and this adds interest to the contests. The two events first named are to be run to-morrow, and the hurdles on Thursday. Many of the acceptors for the Hurdles have engagements to-mor-row, and thus a line may be given as to the winner of the big event. The dozen engaged in the opening event, the Trial Hurdles, 12 miles, are by no means classy, but Redolent and Sunny Comet may have the best credentials. Pakanui and Knockfin are at the top of the list in the Paparua Handicap, six furlongs, and may be in the firing line. The former Waikato hack, Matoru, and Rebel Chief, have been pleasing lately, and they look like being the hardest to beat, with Arabo-a and Queen Dorothy also worthy of consideration. Investments will probably be widespread in the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap, IS miles, for which there arc thirteen acceptors. John Charles, the Aucklander High Quality, anu Journet are expected to run well, but there may be real danger from Cottingham and Mount Vai, who both had plenty of pace befcre reverting to .hurdling. There is a far-too-big field for the Cashmere Plate, a six furlong hack at special weights. Valantua, Happy Knight and Mishna have been galloping well. Then comes the big Steeples, witli Royal Limond top weight with 11.0. There are shrewd investors who would not back him if only 9.0 were allotted him—because he is too unreliable. Irish Comet, the Great North ern hero, has 10.7, and is -a splendid jumper; but 1 rather fancy he will Lc very tired at the clcse of the 3i miles, and expect a younger horse to carry off the honours. On recent gallops and form, it looks like Streamline, Nocturnus and Burglar being very hard to dispose of, and Nocturnus may start favourite. The Southern mate Shillelagh Wood, may do best of the outsiders. But she is also in the Enfield Steeples, the next event, so may be withdrawn from the Grand National Steeples. In the minor event she would probably find Kelly and Crow hardest to dispose of. Nightwind is a light-weight with some claim to consideration.

The Winter Cup, one mile, has attracted 22 accepters, some of them with prior engagements. Wino won last year, and Epris the previous year; both are engaged to-morrow—-but are not much fancied, though Epris was a real gcod horse when ne won, and may stage a come-back. Trench Fight, Sir Charles Clifford’s candidate, is much in demand, and will probably be sent cut favourite. Concert Pitch, Ponty and Grey Honour, of those on the first half cf the list, will probably also be heavily backed, and of the light-weights Dictate, Shy and Old Surrey make appeal. Concert Pitch, Dictate and Trench Fight are fancied in that order. The Avonhead Handicap, seven furlongs. also has a very large field engaged, including Survov. Waitaka and Tidewaiter, former Aucklanders, and if anything is to beat the best of the trio it may be Mittie or Myriam. In the Grand National Hurdles, on Thursday, there is a preference for Collision, over Journet and High Quality.