WINTER HURDLES TO=DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1929, Page 5

WINTER HURDLES TO=DAY

MISTER GAMP FAVOURITE •THOUSAND POUNDER DRAWS WEED DISCUSSION OF RECENT FORM. (By “Moturoa.”) The centre of interest at Trentli tm to-day will be the Winter Hurdles, the bi<» ‘•'thousand pounder” that is usually expected to throw light on the Grand National Hurdles next month. This race generally draws the cream of the hurdle horses in the Dominion, and this year s field is no exception to the rule. Nukninai and Comical have both recorded National victories, while Mister Gamp, who scored in the recent Great Northern Hurdles, is popularly ticked ■ off as on e likely to attaiil ‘those honours. Nukumai and Comical appear to be far from their best now and the punters naturally turn to younger jumpers who are showing form, in preference to those whose yeans and performances have entitled them to the clover paddock. While Red Fuchsia, Locarno, Bright Land, Home Made, Overhaul and Horomea can be classed in the list of those whose future careers look full of possibility, I do not think that the sporting public can look much past Mister Gamp, and present indications are that the Austra-lian-bred gelding will touch a short price to-day.

A succession of recent failures does ftot encourage one to be very confident about Nukumai’s prospects and, while I am loth to say that the old chap is past being a possibility, he will have to make a°big improvement on his recent essays to be near the mark at the finish. He won this race two years ago and; while we thought that he had slipped past redemption when he failed to fill a place last year, he disproved that conjecture by taking the lust National Hurdles in good style. The form that Red Fuchsia displayed last season prompted followers of form to mark him down as a good winner this year. To date he has failed to strike the form expected of him, but those who saw him score last year may not relinquish the hope that he may figure on the winning list again, And before long. In his last three starts Mister Gamp has won the Century Hurdles, the Great Northern Hurdles, and run Overhaul to half a length in the Trcntham Hurdles. In the latter event, another furlong would have landed him home an

easy winner. With half a mile extra to cover to-day, the Bronzetti —Brolly jumper will take a power of beating, and the public are not likely to lose eight of this fact. Locarno has shown a preference _to shorter races this season, and I think that the distance will trouble him. Gl.mgariff seems to have lost all form and not sighted in the Trentham Hardies. The injuries that the Aucklander, Bright Land, sustained on the journey down have prevented him starting at the meeting and he can hardly be ready to take on a hard race over eighteen furlongs. King’s Guard won the Wellington Steeplechase in good style, and he°should not experience any difficulty in seeing out the distance. Home Made did run°up to expectations on Wednesday, but he stays on well. _ Aberfeldy may experience trouble in going the full journey. Beaumont, Tresham and Radiate will not make much appeal, but Overhaul, who won the Trentham Hurdles, should be improved by the race. He is only a now-chum to the jumping game and I think that his connections are asking too much of the Tractor gelding to take on such a hard race. Prince°Lu and Troilus should be in the Tunning for a sho t part of the journey, but, if she jumps well. Iloromea should hold them both safe. However, she may take on the hurdles earlier in the day, a race which should suit her beter.

The public will not experience any trouble in selecting their favourite today, and MISTER GAMP, who is one of the best hurdlers seen out in. recent years, should touch a very short price. In looking for a second dividend, the punters may have a penchant for the chances of Red Fuchsia and Overhaul, although the veteran Nukumai will not be readily dismissed from their calculations. •

WINTER HURDLES. Two miles and a-quarter. 9 Nukumal 11 11 Aberfeldy 9 Red J’uchsla 10 13 Beaumont 9 7 Mister Gamp 10 13 Tresliam 9 6 Comical 10 9 Overhaul 9 3 Locarno 10 7 Prince Lu 9 0 Glengariff 10 5 Trollus 9 0 King’s Guard ■ 9 10 Horomea 9 0 Home Made 9 10