THE LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1308, 20 May 1915, Page 7

THE LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL.

Though the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase is regarded as the “blue riband of cross-country racing,” and attracts the cream of jumping talent, the percentage of falls is probably as great in that race as in any other event in which obstacles have to be negotiated, says an Australian paper. Accidents are, of course, looked for in the Grand National, for the' course' over which the race is run is probably the most severe known. Of one sort and another there are 30 jumps, some to be taken twice to be negotiated during the

four miles and 856 yards over which the race is run, and while some of these are sft. in height, others include uninviting brooks up to 16ft. wide. Naturally, therefore, none but a highly finished jumper, in the pink of condition can hope to get through. There were 20 starters in the last Grand National, all supposed to be thoroughly qualified for the task, and yet only nine finished. Four pulled up, and seven fell, one of which, Baiscadden, was remounted and finished seventh. Even this- was- a much better result than is often obtained. It was in 1913 that the accident list was extraordinarily heavy, only three out of 22 starters seeing the journey through and no fewer than 14 falling. So far as Australian sportsmen are concerned, the recent Grand National interested them chiefly owing to the fact that Bullawarra, ridden by C. Hawkins, was a competitor. According to the betting quotations, Bullawarra was the eighth most fancied, and until he came to grief at a water jump, which was about the 10th obstacle from the starting point, was always at or near the front, and going uncommonly well. It is satisfactory to know that, in the opinion of some watchers, it was not from any fault of his own that Bullawarra came down. Several loose horses hampered the field, and one of them upset the

Australian, hence, perhaps, the decision to give him another opportunity next year. One writer, however, attributes the blame to Bullawarra, who, he says, may have lost confidence because of his fall at Hurst Park. The most fancied of all the starters was Irish Mail, who was backed down to 6 to 1, but he did not even finish, while of the three next in the betting —Lord Marcus, Silver Top, and Baiscadden —only Silver Top stood up, and he was sixth to pass the judge. Ally Sloper, the winner, started at 100 to 8, Jacobus, second, at 100 to 4, and the third, Father Confessor, was eno of two at 10 to 1. The winner is owned by Lady Nelson who, in the lengthy history of the Grand National, is the only lady owner to take the coveted honour. Of the riders engaged, four were amateurs, and of these Mr. J. R. Anthony was on the winner, so that he repeated his triumph of four years ago on Gleeside. Mr. Anthony, however, considers that he had a very lucky ride. According to his own sta'enient, his mount stood back too far at the second fence, and jumping on top of it all but came down. Mr. Anthony would have fallen off, he says, only that his brother, Ivor, riding Uston in the same race, was alongside, and kept him in the saddle. Ally Sloper blundered at the canal fence so badly that, for a while after, Mr. Anthony was hanging round his neck, so that it was rather surprising that the horse should finish at all. The Baiscadden party were very sore over that horse’s defeat. They expected him to win by a street, and this he would probably have done

but for the accident. For a jumper Baiscadden possesses remarkable pace, and a Sydeny racing man who knows him well says that, with Bst., he would be backed to win a Melbourne Cup. So far as breeding goes, Ally Sloper claims a place in the purple. He is by Travelling Lad (by G'allinule) from Sally in Our Alley, by Discord (son of See Saw) from Our Mary Ann, by Voltigeur.