THE GRAND NATIONALS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17063, 16 August 1917, Page 7

THE GRAND NATIONALS

BY " MULTIFORM."

Ihe C.J.C. Grand National Meeting for 1917 will be inaugurated at Riceaiton to-day, and there is every indication that the gathering will 'be- quite as largely patronised and as successful from every point of view as any of its predecessors. Despit-e the fact that several of our best jumpers are in Australia, and that El Gallo and a number of other good hurdlers and chasers are hors de combat for tne time being, the jumping events are well filled,-and good fields will face the starter. Interest in the three big events has steadily increased since the Hawke's Bay and Wellington meetings, and it is doubtful if there has ever been more pre-post betting than there has been this year on the threy big events. Strange to say, every one of the North Island winter meetings this year ? with the exception of the Wanganiu meeting, has been held under unfavourable circumstances as far as the weather .and the going were concerned. The weather at Riccarton has, however ; been exceptionally fine of late, and if it continues to-morrow the success of the gathering will be assured.

A good sort of hunter in Burgess is engaged in the first event, the Hunt Club Cup, in which the company, with the exception of Kaupokomu and Tangihaere, is very moderate. Golden Glade and the novice, Arthur George, are well handicapped in the Trial Hurdles, in which the top-weight, San Sebastian, has been given his full deserts with 11.5.

The Grand National Hurdles should be a good betting race, in which all the contestants will be well supported. Nothing has been doing better work on the tracks than th e Mystification gelding, Sleight of Hand, and he will probably shar e favouritism with Bon Kev.e, who is in rare form. Flying Camp is a very dangerous outsider, and botn Te Onga ana Sir Solo should run well.

Crib will.go out a very imperative order in the Grand National Steeplechase 4 in which event his party consider him unbeatable. This year's race will, however, probably be a harder race £o win than last year's, and while it looks as if the weight might stop Gluepot, Master Strowan and Braeburn, there are a pair of very formidable light-weights in Sandy Paul and Merry Lad to be reckoned with. Good as Crib imdoubtedly is, it will take him all his time to concede 3Olbs 'to Sandy Paul, and 271bs to Merry Lad over three miles and a half if the three stan^ up. Old Bra,eburn is such a fine stayer that^ with all his weight, he may be well in it at the finish.

A seasoned jumper in Paremata is engaged m the Enfield Steeplechase, in which only half'a dozen may face the starter.

No less than 29 good horses are engaged in the big mile event, the Winter Cup, and the result is very open. On paper the dangerous division appear to be Sir Agnes, Tip Up, Probation, Parisian Diamond, Lady Penury and Miss Deval. Several shrewd judges who saw Sir Agnes perform at Trentham give the Boris gelding a second-to-none chance, but the issue is so fraught with possibilities that anything may win. Black Hill was in the early stages well backed for the Winter Cup, but was not paid up for. He is, however, •eiigaged in; the Summer Handicap against quite a different class, and has been considerately dealt with. Rajput may run well during the meeting, as he has been responsible tor some smart track-work.

Some concern was manifested at Ricoarton on Tuesday morning at the non-arrival of Gluepot. A rumour was in circulation to the effect that the" Gluten gelding had been carried on to Port Chalmers.