Grand National Hurdles.

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 48, 17 August 1907, Page 15

Grand National Hurdles.

THE Grand National Hurdles will he decided at Riccarton. today (Thursday). With an acceptance of twenty-three, there was every prospect of something approaching a record field going to the post. The winding np gallops have been telling their tale on some of the candidates, and it is possible the field may be reduced more than was anticipated. Cuiragno is one that appears to be feeling the effects of continued hard training, but at the time of writing there is no definite pronouncement as to his starting. Le Beau overreached early in the week, and his starting is doubtful. Paritutu bas been standing up well, though he lias not shown sufficient aptitude at jumping to make his chance appear too bright. On Monday morning he sustained a slight cut as the result of hitting one of the obstacles. His schooling effort that morning was disappointing. M err i wai has been jumping and going well, also Lull, the Wellington winner. Shrapnel appears to be .well, and he has done good schooling work. The same can be said of Ben Johnson, who on track form appears to hold the other two Auckland horses, Landlock and Cavalry, safe. The race is a difficult one to deal with. If Cuiragno were at his best, and Paritutu a more proficient jumper, I should have been prepared to take this pair to beat the field. But under the circumstances, it appears necessary to look lower down for the winner. On both track form and recent perfornlformances Lull and Merriwai appear to me most dangerous. Shrapnel and Ben Johnson should run well for Auckland, and Idasa looks the most likely of the 9st. division. I will take Lull to win, with Merriwai. next best.

Maniapoto rules as favourite for New Zealand Cup. N.Z. Grand National Hurdles run to-day (Thursday). Tartan and Poseidon are doing good work at Randwick. " Welshing" appears to be prevalent in England just now. 128 Epsom Derbies have been run, of which the favourite has won on only 48 occasions. Lull's work at Riccarton points to his proving a likely winner of the Grand National Hurdles. The Calcutta Turf Club are initiating the 1.0. U. form of betting on the tote for the accommodation of big bettors.

Chrichton, \the "Otalo^l^-'CuB ■ candidate, has broken down£ $£%''■ "' " ' l *'- ii i-a T' ' Le Beau went lame on 1 ' Monday. His starting in-, the ■ -jEL-IJ. is dbiibtfulv ' .-''-. _'! "'I AAyA' '.';. i. . ■' Cordon fell and broke his neck; . whilst being ' schooled at Gatdfl'^d >v last week. .• - • .-■:[ ' - ,"! Maranui, Chamade and Volume arrived safely at Sydney on . Sunday last. The trio were landed in good condition. ' ; i Paritutu's schooling effort on Monday was again disappointing. He hit the hurdles pretty hard> and sustained a slight cut. It is said that Orby, the^ Derby winner, has habit of changing • his stride, and that he did this six times in the race for the Derby. Horses that have been recently supported for the New Zealand Cup are Elevation, Harvest, Astrakhan, Marguerite, Apa and Armistice. ; Cavalry showed improvement on Monday last taking a few jumps in good style. He might furnish a surprise in the Grand National. Bribery (list. 111 b.) scored a pronounced victory in the Caulfteld Grand National Steeplechase last Saturday. He started at 12 to 1. New York ('Spirit -of the Times" is strongly critical of the standing start. It dubs it "the one unnatural, irrational, ridiculous blot on our flat racing." . , Merriwai has coihe into favour for the C.J.C. Grand National Hurdles, and Lull's recent gallops at Riccarton have gained him friends. Paritutu is likely to start favourite. ; • Landlock has been performing fairly well at Riccarton, though oh Saturday last Ben Johnson beat him over a once round. Cavalry. Was associated in the same gallop, -but was beaten off. The Swimmer started in the Caulfield Grand National Steeplechase last Saturday, starting : at ' iSWfee^l. He had the bad luck to lose his rider early in the race, and- so took- "but little part in the contest. ';] The Hon. J. D. Ormond fe the head of the list of /winning . for the past season, his winnings totalling £8050. Mr G. G. Steadis second on the list with £5282 (incluuing £1687 won in Australia. — | The Adelaide Grand. National Hurdle Race was won by -Mundiaßa (9st. 71b), Concave £L.os:£) and Royalty (9st. 81b) being, .in the places. MundiabaV' dividend was £5 Bs. There, were , 14. Starters. I Paritutu's first efforts over tie schooling hurdles at Riccarton weye signalised by disappointing di§play}3. He has since shown that he can fenge capably. If he performs similarly in the big hurdles to-day he rimy wiii. In " Pentagraph's " 1906-07 racing statistics, Seaton Delaval figures at the head of the winning; <sires* list with £9114, Stepniak foUOwiiig with £8228^. In the winning hprseijF list, Master Delaval stands at' the head with £2365. "•'.■. y v . The double tote appears doomed jto extinction. It's life his been cbiaaparatively short. It hast heen_popiiilar with backers, and it is probable, if its fate were in the hands of tse racegoers onty, that a big vofe would be cast in its favour. ;i Paritutu has been' riiuch exercising the minds of backers. in connection with the Grand""' Hurdles. He arrived, at Ricearttfn with a private record of v at^ain^d proficiency in jumping iand g^inld the position cf favourite^ At Rftccajj.- . tori he has mixed things q, bi^ aisd backers are in a: quandary. : as;.-to hoijv he will perform ii^uhlio. (<^ $ Racecourse appolfntnients at» mc§t English tracks are (reihar.!p3. v aik.eej_:-. change) a long way ''4&nind thole prevailing in Australia^ and' :•• Whin The White Knight and Eider ran*a dead-heat for the Ascot Gold . Cfe> the verdiot could not be communfctft.ed to.the publief or sojtne^minutes, l§.ckuise there is^ 'noi'p&ceio^the Ascot number hoard to exhibit the cyphir denoting a dead heat, and the i»sult was known in the streets of LoSt-. , s^:_fff vß^iW^ zoning papefs oef pr^ thn ifcaijorit^ of^pdbple on tfe oonrse were cognisant of the i'f aotS „.....-,.-. ...^ „,.,..,. ,_,„. .■.'," ' ' *» **- • -'■-■ ;.:■.-'-;>'.:•.. '•■-^Vy^'^v.- v ( *c:V^^^ .-,.