WILTSHIRE APPEALS IN GRAND NATIONAL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 188, 10 August 1931, Page 5

WILTSHIRE APPEALS IN GRAND NATIONAL.

OMEO APPEARS TO BE NEARLY AT HIS BEST. (By MARTIAN.) The principal attraction at Riccarton to-morrow is the Grand National Steeplechase, and the strong field engaged assures the success of the race. The top-weight, Wiltshire, hero of <wo Grand Nationals already, has set everyone thinking with his bad display la t week, but the fact that his trainer and rider overlooks the poor showing should be good enough for those who pin th< .r faith to the son of Day Comet to annex his third National. lie has not shown any signs of his fall affecting him. «nd this writer thinks that he will lie the hardest to beat. Omeo put up two good performances at Trentham and Awapuni, and he appears to be nearly at his l>est. lie has proved that he can jump and stay the distance bv i.is third last year, and he is sure to i-e one of the fancies. Dark Prince w »n the July Steeplechase at Trentham. and ran third at Awapuni. but he fell m his first round of the country the other day. Ilis record is not a good one. and unless he is better than he appears to be he can have no chance. Paris won the Wellington Steeplechase in good style, and failed in the luly Steeplechase. He has given every satisfaction since arriving at Riccarton and must be given a first-class chance. He looks much more likely to yet round than Dark Prince. Lucess i. n third in the Great Northern Sti v ' chase, and failed miserably at Trcitham. He is a good jumper, and h *.s done his work at headquarters without a blemish. The only thing against him is the doubt about his seeing the ior:rnev right out. Tuki and Snowfall have plodders’ chances. Wako King was second in the Great Northern Steeplechase. and though not a brilliant jumper, should see the journey pu*. Copey is another like Wako King and is the best of the nine starter*. Summed up, the winner should c< ma from WILTSHIRE OMEO.