Coming Events.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 105, 28 July 1892, Page 5

Coming Events.

[By

“Sir Launcelot.”]

THE GRAND NATIONAL WEIGHTS.

Tun acceptances for the Grand National Hurdle Race and G.N. Steeplechase are a better lot than I expected. For the former there are 11 acceptors out of 25 Mr. Henry handicapped, while the Steeplechase shows 17 out of 27 that were originally entered. The injuries Somnambulist received up .here must be more serious than was at first anticipated, for he has dropped out of both races, though on his previous form he was not badly dealt within either. I was by no means surprised at Waterbury’s owner taking him out of the Steeplechase, for he was badly handicapped; but he is left in the Hurdles, and w id take a lot of beating if well. In addition to him and Somnambulist, the most noticeable absentees from the Steeplechase are Shillelagh, Kangaroo, Glenelg, and Auckland ; and in the Hurdles Somnambulist, Bay King (whose owner, however, has accepted with Idler), Commotion, Glenelg, Retina, Queen of Trumps, and Stranger. Everyone of those I picked in last week’s issue of the Sporting Review as best in on paper have accepted, so I will repeat my conviction that the Hurdles will be fought out between Norton, Couranto, Cajolery and Kaimanawa ; and the Steeplechase between Couranto, Bootles, Caloola, Kaimanawa and Morok. The C.J.C. have received good entries for the other events of their meeting (which comes off on August 11 and 13), for eight have been entered for the Maiden Hurdles, 23 for the Winter Handicap, and 16 for the Beaufort Steeplechase; but

as the Ladies’ Bracelet isgenerally such a popular race, it is surprising to find an entry of but half a dozen for it.

WHAT THE TURF SCRIBES THINK

“ Vigilant,” of the N.Z. Mail., thinks that Mr. Henry’s adjustments for the N.Z. Grand National Hurdles and Steeplechase are the worst he has produced. “He has,” says “ Vigilant, to my thinking commenced quite 61b or 71b too low in both races. As the handicaps stand now it goes forth to the world that we have no good timber toppers in New Zealand. The usual top weight in any Grand National is 12st 71b or thereabouts, and I happen to know that Mr. R. Mcßae, before the weights appeared, told a friend that he would be quite satisfied if Whalebone got anything like i2st sib or izst 61b. At the present weights it is not more than level money on the field against three in each race, these three being Whalebone 11.13, Ahua 11.9, and Norton 114 the Steeplechase, and Norton 11.12, Kulnine 11.5, and Waterbury 11.5, in the Hurdles. These are virtually the top weights in each case, for Couranto and Shillelagh, who are also good on paper, are reputed to be under a cloud.”