THE GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 642, 22 May 1882, Page 2

THE GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

[By Vestas.] .... On Wednesday the principal-.'cross-country fixture ill New Zealand*' wjll be run, and, given favorable weather,' Fshall look to see such an attendance as has never before been seen at an ‘‘ illegitimate ” gathering in our cSlimy^SSksM' • my estimate of the number oipihoae likely to be present not alone upon' the* fact that the “world’s show" is ; atpresent running in the cathedral city, but I also rely on the open hature of the principal event—the Grand National Handicap— to act as a considerable “ draw.” QTcourse, locally considered, it is a source of-disap-pointment that the convincing;ground is not within our own county,: : at' f one time wo had every' reason to expect it would be ; but it is to be hoped.that next season will be a more prosperous one 1 with us, and that we shall be in a better “position to make the gathering a. success, than we* would have been if it had been run in th<j county this year, in which case no doubt Ashburton will be the locale of next season’s meeting. But to coma; fco> Wednesday’a races and endeavor to guide your sporting readers as to the-various, animals “ best in ” throe out of the four events , - which will be found on the card, i Tub Gk uvo National Handicap is the fiiot event for which the saddling bell'Will ring, and I expect to see one of the largest fields over despatched to negotiate atone work in the colony taken in hand by Mr Or boll on Wednesday next, and, as 1 have ■ -.Will

-, ..Wore said) it looks on paper a most open ' face. Ten nominations were received, being one more'than last year—but,The Agent, I regret to say, responded in so i . iQuy a manner to an appeal of his owner shortly after nomination day, that the pencil was at once run through his name, • and. the birdseye banner of the wellknown metallician, which has so often , .been. carried to'victory by the son of Oliver Cromwell, will bo conspicuous by its absence. Last year’s winner (Clarence) and the Southern Sailor Boy. head the weights, with 12st 101 b each. For the same e‘vent last year Mr Pilbrow’s gelding ' carried 12st 21b, and Sailor Boy, who , finished second (but was disqualified), 12»t ■ 61b. It will thus be seen that the son of Eavensworth now meets the latter on only 4lb worse terms, and this, I think, fit and well, he, is thoroughly able to do, and romp home in front. But Ido not think that it, will he the Clarence of old that we, shall see atrip on Wednesday next, and I must pass him by, believing that riiore than, one 1 animal will finish in front of him. Nei-1 ther am I‘particularly sweet on his com-J panion in the weights, albeit, if tho- j roughly ; fit, he will show more than one! of them his heels. The local horse, Why J Not (list 71b), is next on the list, and 11 believe the big chestnut frv.m Dundas will 1 strip as St as hands can make him on the J day, and if so, this dashing son of Tra- j ducer : Ladybird will take a lot of beating. J He will further have the advantage of Mr | Edward Saunders as pilot, and I do not I think bo could have a better. lam sure I

we have not yet seen the best of Why Not, and I hope, for the sake of the popular gentleman who has so long owned —although I see be owns him no longer —that he will put his best foot forward, and land the magenta jacket first past the post for the Grand National of *B2. Quamby comes next, and receives 2lbs from Mr Saunders’ nomination. Quamby is a Tasmanian bred one, by Castle Hill, and won the Maiden Plate last year, after a rather close finish with Sailor Boy, which performance he followed up by appropriating the principal event at the Tinwald Steeplechase Meeting, Clarence being one of those behind the one from the “' tight little island,” and I may as well say at once that of his chance 1 think very highly, firmly believing that, cheny ripe on the day, whatever beats him will be hailed as the Grand National winner. Young Sledmore has a nice handy weight (list 31b), and I look to see. him run well forward ; in fact, if there is to be a “ surprise,” I expect to see this son of Sledmere play a prominent part in it. This brings me to another leniently-treated animal, Baron (lOst 121 b), Who, if the distance were about three quarters of a mile less, would, I think, be there or thereabouts when the i final jump was to be negotiated. As it is, ' I believe the distance (about four miles) * Is rat her more th an th e Nor therner 1 ikes, an d - 1 shall not expect to see him nearer than third. Of theremainingthree—Carrigheen, Katerfelto, and the venerable Mousetrap— I have not a high opinion, believing that we have seen the tJost of the aged grey, and 1 do not look to him to trouble the judge. To sum up, then, I think the four most handy at the finish will be Why Not, Quamby, Baron, and Young Sledmere, and if I had to place should do it thus:— >

Quamby .. 1 Why Not a ... ... 2 Babon ... - 3 The Maiden Plate next claims attention. Eight out of the ten nominators remain in the hunt at the time of my writing, Dr Pots’ Musket being one of the absentees. Of the lot I like Rocket and Kosciusko, and shall, expect to see them finish in something like the following order:— Kosciusko... ... 1 Eookkt ... 2 Tbovatok* . ... ... 3 The Hunt Cop has six left in iti Sailor Boy,' Clarence,'Young Slednrere, Quamby, Katerfelto and Gang Awa. This, I think, should be .a good struggle between the tkro top weights in the Handicap—indeed, I should not be surprised to see the son of Ravensworth kept for this event, in which case 1 do- not think 1 need look further for the real Simon Pure. If Quamby wins the big thing' he will have to put up a 14lb penalty, which will bring hia weight up to 13st 31b., quite enough to atop him in my opinion. If X did not think that Young Sledmere was intended for the Handicap I should look upon him as dangerous, but I think the four mile journey .will prove sufficient for him for one day, and I shall expect to 'see them pass the judge thus : * CL4BBKOB ... ... 1 Sailoe Boy ••• 2 The Consolation Stakes, the last event on the card, will start at four o’clock, and the train usually leaving Christchurch* at 4.26 will , not start till 5.20, thus giving Visitors from Ashburton amplw time to see the last of the day’s proceedings and catch the train, which will arrive at its destination at 8.45.