NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONALS.

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1024, 13 August 1898, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONALS.

At Riccarton to - day (Thursday) opens the meeting which carries with it the two chief jumping events of flhe year in the South — the Grand National Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdle Race. Local interest in these events is considerable, the presence of locally - owned horses adding still more interest than even the great amount which would be annually attracted to Riccarton even if Auckland wetenot directly interested. I have in previous issues, since the handicaps of these events were published, endeavoured to give readers the benefit of whatever was moving in connection with them, both as regards the betting and the training, and have also endeavoured to sort out the probable results. Therefore my anticipatory notes today will be very brief. The acceptances are satisfactory, and now that they have appeared, all doubts are set at rest as regards, first, Plain Bill's starting (about whose movements previous information has been, to say the least, erratic), and secondly, as to Opai's mission. Curiously enough, these two seem to have been the only two items about which any uncertainty existed, so that with Plain Bill scratched for both, and Opai left in the Hurdlea only, plainer sailing is given in respect to the Steeplechase. As Muscatel has accepted for the Steeplechase, we must suppose there is a chance of her starting. She seems to haye thrown off ber soreness very suddenly. However, I shall stand by my previous choice, Dummy being now stronger than ever in favour of his chance. Magpie and Nor'v?est seem to me the next best of the field. Regarding the GN. Hurdles which is run on Saturday afternoon, the field bears a much more open aspect. Opai is a strong favourite, and though I have a fairly strong liking for his chance, I feel inclined to look lower down for the actual winner, weight being in favour of a horse in a two mile hurdle race. Of Huzzar, we know little of as a hurdler. He is in fact a maiden at the illegitimate. He will run today in the Maiden Hurdles, and on his running in that may be better estimated his chance in the big race on Saturday. If as good as reported, he should follow in the footsteps of Umslopogaas and win the double Maiden and G. N. Hurdles. Then Missfire, who I should have mentioned first, has a strong following. Ilex, Social Pest, Magazine (a really good outsider), and Kanaka, all seem to me to have chances. Therefore, whilst personally I have most liking for Opai, I wish to emphasise my opinion of the openness of the race, and that any of those I have mentioned may win.