CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 855, 26 July 1906, Page 7

CANTERBURY.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 25. Acceptances for the Grand National Steeplechase, Grand National Hurdles, and Winter Cup are due on Friday next. Signalman was scratched for the Winter Cup at 10.50 a.m. on Friday last. Zetland was scratched for the same race at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Fontenoy dropded out at 11.15 a.m. on Monday. Signalman’s withdrawal from the Cup came as a surprise, as it was generally considered he had an excellent chance of carrying off the big event. North horses having engagements at the Grand National Meeting are now arriving almost every day. Those already at Riccarton are Irish, Cuiragno, Cavalry, Ranana, and Swimmer. Cuiragno, one of the favourites for the Grand National Hurdles, created a very favourable impression, and he is evidently very fit. Pipi, in charge of H. Carr, arrived from Dunedin loobing in fine fettle. This horse knows every inch of the steeplechase country at Riccarton, and will be running on when several of the field have had enough. Slow Tom has recovered from the injuries he met with at Trentham, and is getting through a lot of solid work. I want to see him do some more jumping before favouring his chance in the National Steeplechase. The latest addition to the ranks of hurdle racers is Stronghold, who has been bought by A. Rutherford. The Clanranald horse was given his first lesson over hurdles on Monday morning, and found no difficulty in getting over them. W. Clarke was riding the horse who had Graduated Tax for a companion. Stronghold performed well on the fiat, and should make a fine hurdle racer. A commission was worked here in favour of Kaitere and Kremlin for the Grand National double. All the money available was snapped up on Saturday, and as a result the combination to-day is quoted at a very short price. A rumour that Shrapnel had struck a hurdle hard was in circulation at the same time as the commissioners were at work. An interesting piece of work over the steeplechase country was performed by Eurus and Phaetonitis on Thursday morning. They set out together and jumped about ten fences. During the gallop, which was a decidedly good one, both horses jumped well, Eurus if anything having a slight advantage in getting over his fences. Narcissus is getting through his preparation for the Grand National Steeplechase in capital style, and so far has not made any mistakes in his jumping. Rangitata, The Guesser, Jack Snipe, Recruit and Lee Enfield have all done some schooling over hurdles and fences during the week. Convoy was scratched for the Grand National Hurd’e Race and N.Z. Cup at 1.10 on Monday. St. Lyra was scratched for all engagements at the National Meeting at 11.15 a.m. on Monday. Cuneform, the three-year-old colt by Mu'tiform-Bluefire, was recently sold by Mr G. G. Stead to a patron of A. West’s stab'e at Caulfield. Cuneform was landed in Melbourne m excellent condition. Kaitere and Eurus are still favourites for the National Steeplechase, Shrapnel and Kremlin holding same honour in the National Hurd'es. Exmoor has gone out of favourite for the Hurdle Race during the week, while Prospector, Cuiragno and Cavalry have shortened in price, coupled with the best of steeplechasers.