GRAND NATIONAL HORSES

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1932, Page 12

GRAND NATIONAL HORSES

PROSPECTS OF BIG ENGLISH RACE. AMONG THE LIKELY CANDIDATES. (.From Our Own Correspondent.) London, January 21. The unusually mild weather that has continued into the middle of January means that racing over the sticks has been less interrupted than in any season during the past decade, but it does not mean that the racing has been of a better or more striking quality. 0n the contrary, there appear to have been far fewer thrills than usual, and when one does occur it is liable to be magnified out of all proportion to its intrinsic worth. I do not say this was the case when two prominent candidates for Grand National honours met a few days ago in a steeplechase over three miles on the picturesque, though rather easy, Lingfield course. They were Drintyre, who was ridden 'by his owner Captain Brownhill—a partnership that has proved invincible so many times during the last two seasons —and Sir Lindsay, who was in the hands of a capable horseman in Dudley Williams, chief jockey to Ivor Anthony’s WroughtOn stable. Sir Lindsay had run third in Shaun Goilin’s Grand National in 1930,. and many good judges were of the opinion at the time that he would have been the winner had his jockey not lost both stirrup. irons after jumping the last fence. Both. Drintyre and Sir Lindsay had failed—■'without being disgraced—in the last Grand National won b; Grakle, but since then Captain Brownhill’s horse has been carrying all 'before aim in races over park courses, while Sir Lindsay, in his only appearar. -e in November last, again on the Liverpool course, had revealed much of his old talent by running a good second to the more lightly-weighted Irish mare Heartbreak Hill.

GREAT STRUGGLE TO THE POST.

As the 1932 Grand National is fast approaching, a really serious race between two such notables was welcomed among a plethora of quite ordinary things, and those who wen. to the course were not to be disappointed. There were two other horses in the field, and one of them, Near East, be-, cause of a win in the same Lingfield race last year, was made second favourite to Drintyre, about whom the bookmakers asked for odds. Sir Lindsay was freely laid against at six to one, the prevailing idea being that as he had not been ip public since November he might be in need of a gallop, or rather a race in the deep going. They had not travelled far before it became evident the race was going to le a match between the Grand National horses, both of whom were jumping m the boldest fashion. The other two were a negligible quantity. As they came into the straight for the second time, backers of the favourite were on good terms with themselves, and when Drintyre jumped the final fence a length ahead everybody thought it was all over.

But they were mistaken. Williams sat down in earnest to ride his horse — with his hands only —and gradually he drew up level to his opponent who, with 111 b. more in the saddle, could not pull out the merest trifle more to get his head in front. Indeed, as they passed the judge they were locked together and a few yards beyond Sir Lindsay was in front. A dead-heat was a perfectly fair verdict, but there is no doubt that, had the race 'been over a longer distance, Sir Lindsay would have been the winner at the weights. Anyhow, it was an immense thrill and, without knowing at the time of writing what poundage will be apportioned by the handicapper to each at Aintree, I am sure that either will be worthy to carry a backer’s money in the big race in March. GRAKLE ON THE 'SCENE AGAIN. A similar duel was enacted a few days afterwards on the eburse at Derby, which is not unlike Lingfield in its conformation, when Grakle made his second appearance of the present season and was opposed at level weights by Col. Foljam'be’s Donzelon —a prolific winner in the Midlands, but not a National horse. His owner-trainer recognised this latter fact by not entering him this year, intending to rely on the younger and better Aintree type, Inverse. An interesting point is that Colonel Foljambe, having first claim on his services, will have Bob Lyall to

ride his horse, and it was Lyall who appeared On Donzelon at Derby opposed to the horse he had ridden to victory in the Grand National, now piloted by a new star in the firmament in Mr. Jack Fawcus, a Northumbrian amateur, to whom few professionsals can give any points. There was nothing in it, as is so often the case, until they came to the last fence, and when they had negotiated this safely Grakle, despite not being as forward in condition as the other, asserted his superiority to win by three-quarters of a length. The victory of Grakle, while not being of paramount importance, at any rate showed that the horse is in good heart again, and that his wonderful constitution, had withstood the tremendous strain involved in the winning of a Grand National. Grakle is a grand horse, and his enthusiastic trainer, Tom Ooulthwaite, is optimistic about emulating the manifesto feat of winning the National two years in succession.

Three previous National winners in Grakle, Gregalach, and Shaun Goilin will be in the field next March, and this trio, along with the experienced Sir Lindsay, the park course specialist Drintyre, and the five-year-old Inverse, who has shown ability to jump the Aintree fences, will form the first halfdozen from which the great majority of backers will make their final choice. Two young giants in Pelorus Jack (same stable as Gregalach) and Remus —each is 'being acclaimed the biggest horse in training—have emerged from the comparatively novice stage with credit and will have their adherents, and a few pounds will 'be expended on the grey Glangesia, who has 'been on a successful trip to America since running well in a previous Grand National; while one must not overlook Solanum, owned by the wealthy young woman, Miss Dorothy Paget, because on his first essay on the course last year he showed himself to be the “Aintree type.” For my own part I lean towards Grakle and Gregalach again, but this must not be accepted as an absolutely final decision on the matter.