AINTREE HOPES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 698, 27 February 1933, Page 10

AINTREE HOPES.

American Owner’s Big Try j to Win. VETERANS AND NOVICES. (Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, January ]9 Once good enough, it almost seems as if a horse is never too old to run in the Grand National. Amongst the sixty-seven entrants for the jumping classic which is to be decided* at Aintree on the last Friday of March —that is the week which marks the re-opening of the flat season at Lincoln —is Shaun Goilin, wdio is thirteen years of age. He is one of four past winners who appear in the list, the others being Gregalach, Grakle and Forbra. the hero last year. After Shaun Goilin had finished third to Forbra, it was definitely stated that he was to go into retirement. In the meantime, he has been hunted, and he has shown so much life that it has been arranged that, all going well with the old fellow, he will be allowed one more chance at Aintree. When he seemed to be as good as ever, Grakle had an unfortunate experience last year. Gregalach is another horse still with great possibilities over the exacting course, and Forbra at the age of eight should be at the peak of his steeplechasing life. In fact, if this quartette go to the post they will, I think, be among the best fancied runners. The American sportsman, Mr J. 11. Whitney, has set his heart on winning the National, and all the bitter disappointments he has suffered with horses which seemed to have excellent prospects of capturing the prize have not affected his enthusiasm.

A few months ago he paid a big price for an Irish jumper, Royal Ransom. The latter has created a big reputation at home, but he has still to run in this country, and in the meantime his form has to be taken on trust. Royal Ransom is in Jack Anthony’s stable, where there are also four other National candidates belonging to Mr Whitney. From this it will be seen how keen the American owner is to lead in the winner. At the present time it is, I understand, the intention to let all of them take their chance if they are reasonably handicapped, but fine horse as Thormond 11. is, it is questioned whether his stamina will take him beyond three miles. Lone Eagle 11., Dusty Foot and Slater are the other nominations of Mr Whitney. Royal Secretary to Ride. The Anthony brothers usually hold a big hand at Aintree, and Ivor has also five candidates. These are Baliasport, Destiny Bay, Kellsboro’ Jack, Vinicole and Chadds Ford. Destiny Bay belongs to Mr Lloyd Thomas, who is a private secretary to the Prince of Wales; and it is expected that he will ride the horse himself. Last November fig won on him in the Sefton Steeplechase, and at the time he was marked as a likely National candidate. Ballasport has always been highly thought of, but on the two occasions on which he has run he has conie down, and he has not been seen out for a considerable time. Gregalach is, of course, in Percy Woodland’s stable, and his companions include Pelorus Jack, who was blamed for much of the trouble in last seaRevival of Remus. At one time last year Remus was all the rage. He is an exceptionally big horse and a superb jumper, but he broke down in training and could not run. It is believed that he is now thoroughly sound again. In fact, he. ran in a recent race at Newbury and created a big impression. Tf he starts at Aintree he is sure to be a strong public fancy. Curiously enough, another Remus has been entered. This is a German horse, and for the purpose of identification he will be known as Remus 11. America is also to be directly represented bv Mrs Somerville’s Trouble Maker, surely a most unhappy name to give a National candidate. He was sent over sorpe time ago in order that he might become thoroughly acclimatised. He has a good record in America, and Mr Laing, who rides him at home, will probably pilot him over the Aintree fences. There is another American horse, Evolution, in the list, and France can be represented by Trocadero and El Hadjar, of whom we know little.

NOMINATIONS.

Manawatu Trotting Club’s Meeting. The following: nominations have been received for the Manawatu Trotting Club’s annual meeting, to be held at Ashhurst on March 15:— LADIES’ BRACELET HANDICAP, of 55 sovs; 3.45 class; one mile and a half —Diltest, Tecla, Tui Coronado, Liability, Lady Zoe, Storm Queen, Manaaka, Max Havoc, Derby Thorpe, Netherton, Demand, Mabel Chimes, Min Bells, King Bruce, Happy Maid, Ironman. GORGE HANDICAP, of 55 sovs; for trotters only: 3.50 class; one mile and a half—Summertime, Red Eagle, Scrip, Blue Blood, Florrie Real, Aerial Boy, Mute, Drusem, Billy Bingen, Sphinx, Pearl Parrish, Autumn Lu, Native i Worry, Guy o’ Mine, Annabelle. DASH HANDICAP, of 55 sovs; 2.24 class; one mile—Edna Worthy, Lady , Zoe, Admiral Wrack, Golden Oaks, Smooger, Hemlock Hero, Mr Guy, Daddy Longlegs, Electric Gold. Lucky Guy, Lady Ananda, Storm Queen, Franz Gana, Gold Seam. MANAWATU TROTTING CUP, of 110 sovs; 4.4 8 class; two miles—Ailsa Bingen, Rangihau, Winshow, Free Logan, Rector," Teri Kingi, Mihad, Eleawah, Lady Coronado, Belle o’ Mine, Special Sun, Ulm. KOMJKA HANDICAP, of 55 sovs. 3.5 r-lass; one mile and a quarter—Diltest, Tec-la, Tui Coronado, Liability, Big Blaze, Storm Queen, Max Havoc, Derby Thorpe, Netherton, Te Mahanoa, WaiGolden Harvest, Ironman, Gold Seam. M'DONALD HANDICAP, of 70 sovs; for trotters only; 5.5 class; two miles— Nelson’s Request, Summertime, Red Eagle, Scrip, Blue Blood, Aerial Boy, Drusem, Billy Bingen, Sphinx, Kohioah, Pearl Parrish, Autumn Lu, Guy o’ Mine. POHANGINA HANDICAP, of 60 sovs; 3.3 S class: one mile and a half—Edna Worthy, Admiral Wrack, Golden Oaks, Hemlock Hero, Mr Guy, Electric Gold, Lady Ananda, Min Bells, Golden Harvest, Gold Seam. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP, of 70 sovs; 2.57 class; one mile and a quarter —Ailsa Bingen, Winshow, Free Logan, Rector, Teri Kingi, Smooger, Mihad, Tennessee’s Child, Daddy Longlegs, I Eleawah, Linella, Lady Coronado, Native i Berrv, Whippet. Belle o’ Aline, Special I Sun,* Ulm, Lee Nelson. ! Cough is no longer eligible to race in I hack events. This six-year-old mare is by Sutala from Yawn by Cooltrim, and traces back to Nightmare, ancestress of Wakeful. Cough was bred by the j late Mr D. G. Greenwood.