NOTES BY "MULTIFORM."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17065, 18 August 1917, Page 9

NOTES BY "MULTIFORM."

The C.J.O Grand National Meeting will- be concluded at Riccarton to-da\? Very fair .acceptances have been received and the racing should be close and interesting. Bodenham will be making his "nrsfc and only" appearance at the meeting in the Aylesburv Steeplecnase. and recent advices from Hawke s Bay stated that he had been lumping particularly well before he

Nita who finished fourth in the Grand National Steeplechase, has the same, weight (9.8) to carry in the Beaufort Steeples to-day. The shorter distance should suit her better, and as .nearly all the other competitors have gone up in poundage she is particularly well handicapped. Tip Up has such undoubted pace that with 10.0 he must be considered well treated ir. the August Handicap over his favourite distance. Cardrona, who led most of th e way in the Winter Cup, should also be suited better by the shorter, journey. Golden Rupee looks to be well treated in tho Spreydon Hurdles with 9.8. He has p!c-nty of pace, and if he negotiates his hurdles safely he should finish close to the placed horses. Rewi Poto, with-11.5, has caught it pretty hot from the hsndicapper in the Sydenham Hurdles, and for a maiden hurdler to be asked to give a horse with Bon Reve's record lllbs. seems extraordinary. Flying Canip, who lost his rider in the National Hurdles, may make a much better showing to-day. Ascalaphus, on his first day's running, reads well in the Woolston Handicap, m which the company he will meet will not be so good as those he met on Thursday.

Sir Agnes and Lady Penury have nothing to complain of with regard to weight-in the Islington Handicap, considering that Sir Agnes finished fourth in the Winter 'pup, and Lady Penury got a bad run in that event.

The National Hurdles was a disappointing race; says the "Dominion's" correspondent, only five of the starters completing the course. . Sleight of Hand was a good favourite, and h« soon pulled to the front, and led the whole way. His jumping at some of the fences was extraordinary, and caused the onlookers to gasp with astonishment. At the fence opposite the stand Flying Camp fell, and Art and Leonta came down over him. Rewi'Poto's bridle came off, and he was pulled up. Down +-he back the favourite had a good load, and never looked like getting beaten. Sir Solo was in second place from Cutts's, and finished there. Sir Fisher was third, and then came Bon Reve and Te Onga. Marconi fell two fences from home. None of the riders were injured.; The winner had the softest victory of recent years, and there is little doubt that had the others stood up the result would have been the.-same- ■ '

The Steeplechase was one of the finest jumping events ever seen at Riocarton, and resulted in a very popular win for Mi- F. S. Easton's Master Strowan. Merry Lad, St. Elmn, and Crib wer e fancied in that order, and for two miles an,-* :i no If. the whole of the starters fenced perfectly. Diavolo •was leading The Brewer and Kirkby, with "Crib, pulling hard, next. The order was the same until the second round, when.Merry Lad, who had been stifling, his fences, came down at Cutts'. A mile from home the field bunched and took the next three fences in a cluster. Then St. Elmn shot out, and looked a winner until Master Strowan got to him at the last fence, and in the run home beat him comfortably. Crib was third, and then came Nita. and Braeburn. Kirkby was tailed off, and Sandy Paul pulled up. The winner scored on his merits, and was. under a pull nearly all the way.- The manner in winch he left St. 'Elmn after landing over the last fence was remarkable, and it looked as if it would have taken a. lot of weight to have brought him back to the field.

The whole of the acceptors went to the post for the Winter Cup. Parisian Diamond was the absolute favourite, with Riljoy and Fiery Cmss bracketed next, and Tip Up and Brambletye following. At the start Cardrona set a

fast pace, and, followed by George, lip Up, Miss de Val, and th c favourite, he 'ed into the straight. Here the favourite took charge, and looked to bo winning easily, but over»,the last bit he tired, and King Star and Brambletyo both made runs at him. He shook off the mare, but the lightweight, well handled by W. Bell, stuck to his task, arid got up in time to win by a, head.' Brambletye was a neck away third, and then came Sir Agnes, Kiltess, and Tip' Up in that order. No excuses can be offered for the defeat of the favourite, who was in a good position early, and Tapp got the best out or him.