Anticipations.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 524, 9 August 1900, Page 12

Anticipations.

[By

Petronel.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

Riccarton next week will present a busy appearance, for crowds of visitors will be present to witness the contests for the Grand National Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdles. There will be a large attendance of North Island sportsmen, for this year the horses from this part of the colony are more numerous than ever. With fine weather thrown in the racing should be highly interesting, and the Canterbury Jockey Club should have a successful meeting The fixture opens on Tuesday, and on this day the Grand National Steeplechase is down for c ecision. There is a final payment to be made tomorrow (Friday), and that may considerably

[(reduce the number of probables. The topweight Plain Bill is not altogether in such good favour as he ought to be if fit and well. It seems that something went wrong with him, and that since his, arrival at Riccarton his tasks have been of a very light description. It is said that if he can be given two or three strong gallops before the day he will win. Something is certainly not quite right, and therefore I shall not take him, as the, winner. Had I no doubts about the Flintfock gelding, I should have unhesitatingly plumped for him. Blackdust has come up in the betting quotations lately, and his stable companion, The Guard, has also advanced in price. Of the two, 1 like The Guard best. Roller is a horse, that I think will give a good showing, and old Morag might go very close. Kanaka must be very fit or his owner would not take him all the way to Riccarton. His weight, lOat 71b, should hot interfere with him at all, but I doubt whether he is sufficiently wound up for such a race. Dundee is very highly spoken of Indeed, by the way he has been supported lately, his party must'think very highly of his chance. His work in training has been accomplished in a thorough manner, and, according to report, he is a beautiful jumper and can go fast. I don’t know more about Blackberry than that he is an improved horse since he ran at Hawke’s Bay. Kaimate, I should think, is. not quite recovered, but if in the form he was, at. Auckland National time, he will ran a good race, as should Kauri Gum. My straightout selection is DUNDEE, and I shall expect to see a battle for places between The Guard, Roller, Morag, Kauri Gum, and Blackberry. For the other races my choice rests with the following : First Hunter’s Hurdles. Haibtriggeb .. .. .. I POMELLION . . . . . . 2 Cadet .. .. .. 3 Maiden Hur die Race. Paria .. .. .. ... 1 Coeur de Lion.. .. .. 2 Sylvanus .. .. . - ° Winter Cup. Ideal .. .. .. .. i Sundial .. .. .. 2 Lasting .. .. .. .. 3 Tally-ho Steeplechase. Huntingdon .. .. 1 Proverb .. .. .. .. 2 Crocus .. .. .. 3 Enfield Steeplechase. Stbaybird ... ... ... 1 Popgun 2 Barbarossa ... ... ... 3 Ladies’ Bracelet. Honours ... ... ... 1 SECOND DAY. The Grand National Hurdle Race is run on the Thursday, so I shall have another opportunity of referring to this race. At the present time I like RECORD REIGN better than anything else. The placegetters should c ime from Ilex, Torpina, Marina and Hauriri.