INDIAN SIGN AND SONERI FANCIED FOR TO-MORROW

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1946, Page 6

INDIAN SIGN AND SONERI FANCIED FOR TO-MORROW

L.M.M.)

(SPECIAL— From

WELLINGTON; This Day. The long-awaited Grand National fixture opens at Riccarton tomorrow, when the much-discussed Grand National Steeplechase and Winter Cup will be decided, the Grand National Hurdles being the feature 'event on the second day. The field for to-morrow's big steeplechase cannot be placed in the same category as those of past contestSj hnt, nevertheless, the event should prove very intefesting. With the exception of a few old-stagers, the horses engagfed are recently promoted hack jumpers. The Winter Cup has drawn 32 cbntestants and reads a problem race, while the other events oh the programme have drawn excellent fields. There has been some rain at Riccarton, but fine weather prevailed yesterday and it is likely to remain so for the rest of the week. Retting will be win and place.

10.47— " ENFIELD STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, of £600. About two miles and a-half. — The Ralcer, 11.3; Night Prince, 10.10; Page's Raid, 10.5; Bravura, Appeasement, 9.12; Lady Premier, 9.8; Golden Glow, 9.5; Stromboli, Penetration, Roman Ned, Bank Raid, Noble Robert. 9.0. The Enfield Steeplechase looks to be confined to the four at the top of the list. Night Prince and Page's Raid are also in the G.N. Steeplechase, but as far as can be gathered at this stage the pair are likely to start here. Night Prince's comfortable success last week will cause him to be a pronounced favourite, but there is sure to be gooa support for Page's Raid and The Raker. An improvement is expected from Lady Premier, while others with prospects are Bravura and Golden Glow. 11.32 — CASHMERE' PLATE, of £400. Six furlongs. — Desert Fox, Duncan's Quib, Fort Silver, Front Page, Kinrara, Le Sonnet, Lord Chase, Majestic Fox, Queen's Gen, Spare Part, Spring Water, Thomas, Tin Hat, 8.5; Antibes. Bonnie Fair, Grand Melee, Indian Dawn, Koronah, Lady Melrose, Lorna Leigh, Mestiza, Rahine, Regal Lily, Responsive, Victory Bells, 8.0. A big field is engaged in the Cashmere Plate and the result is very open. Prospects in a race that might supply a surprise are Queen's General, Majestic Fox, Antibes, Rahine, Regal Lily ana Koronah. 12.17— JUMPERS' FLAT RACE HANDICAP, of £5C0. One mile and a-half. — Prize Ring, 11.2; The Monarch, j 11.0; Sphere, Arab Night, 10.6; Boloyna, Betterman, 10.2; Blue; Title, 10.1; Forage, Bramble Song, 10.0; Artic Dawn, 9.12; Hunting Mac, 9.11; Brantome, 9.9; Better- ; musk, 9.7; Hasten, 9.6; Lunaria, J Endurance, 9.5; Prince Dolomite, I 9.3; Ring Scarf, Slavonik, 9.0. Brantome's excellent mile trial at Riccarton earlier in the week may1 make him favourite .for the Jumpers' Flat Race. He. is very fit. Other good performers on- the -flat in the same race are Prize Ring, The Monarch, Sphere, . Betterman, Brambie Song and Bettermusk. 1.2— ' : " = : PAPARUA HANDICAP, of £600. Seven furlongs. — Tribal Night, 9.7; Bridge Acre, 9.5; Foxhaven, 9.2; Platiorm, 9.1; Grill, The Grand, 8.11; Whitley, 8.10; Betterman, 8.8; Broifield, Piccolo, 8.7; Karachi, Money Bird, 8.6; Panope, 8.5; Dash] o' Dink, 8.4; Air Ace, 8.3; Trench 1 Law, Julius Caesar, Burberry, High: Ideal, John o' London, Double! Cross, Kiloney, Cramond Bay.j Good Friend, Sedgemere, Sumra, 8.0. The Paparua Handicap is very open with such good sprinters ! engaged as Tribal Night, Bridge i Acre, Grill, The Grand, Whitley, i Piccolo, Air Ace, Karachi, High - Ideal' and Panope. The winner is j more than likely to be concealed ; among the above named horses, asj they represent class. Of the above j Tribal Night, Piccolo and Whitley - are aiso engaged in the Winter Cup. Bridge Acre is well forward and is expected to race promin- ' ently. . I.47— . 1 GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE- j CHASE HANDICAP, of £3000_. About , three miles and a-half. — Red Glare, ; II.10; Fhil Boa, 10.4; As Required,; 10.2; Siglow, 10.1; Timber Topper, j 3.12; Roman Son, Indian Sign,j 9.11; Rival, 9.8; Slayer, 9.6; Dumbo,! 9.4; Abbey-Lu, Spanish v Main, j Bronze Night, Night Prince, Pagesi Raid, 9.0. " 1 The Grand National Steeple- j chase field is not up to the same class of previous contests. Both; Spanish Main and As Required arej Ihe ruling favourites, while there, is also keen demand for Red Glare, j Indian Sign and Rival. Unless the; unexpected happens the winner , should come from one of the above. : Because of his brilliant perform-; ance in the Homeby Steeplechase; last week Spanish Main is now iikcly to wind up favourite. Indian I Sign is a wonderf ully improved i young jumper with a good chance'J of winning his first National. Red j Glare has proved a good weightj •carrier in the past and carefully nursed on the journey t must be , respected. As Required's was a j good trial last Saturday and the! longer journey will suit him bet-j ter. Old Slayer has a plodder's , chance. He will be carrying on j when some of the others drop out. t The Aucklander, Rival is also not; without prospects. 2 32 ' TRIAL .HURDLE RACE HANDI- | CilP, of £600. One mile and three- i quarters ' and about 50 yds. — j Beneve, 10.10; Maharajah, Glad Fox, 10.8; Artic Dawn, 9.11; Greek Dancer, Olga's Choice, 9.10; Big Top, 9.8; Cuisinier, 9.3; Tamerlane, j 9.2; Banco, Truewa;, 9.0. j Of the eleven m the Trial ; Hurdles best performances are j field by Beneve, Glad . Fox, Artic j

.Dawn and Olga's Choice. Beneve and Glad Fox are likely to dispute favouritism and, bar accidents or faulty jumping, this pair should fight out the issue. 3.17— WINTER. CUP, of £1750. One mile.— Swift Quarry, 10.2; Findon. 9.13; Longsword, 9.11; Verdant, 9.10; Typhoon, Tige'r Tan, 9.9; Bonny .Flight^ Tutere, 9.5; Tribal Night, 9,4;"Lance Wing, Sbneri, 8.13; Nepeta, Imperial, 8.12; Good Bay, 8.11; Sing Sing, Grand Forest, 8.10; Lady N Chips; Salary, 8.8 ; Ganges, F'oxchase. 8.7; Lowry Bay, Honest Sal, Whitley, Piccolo, 8.3; Leigh Barton, 8.4; Western Front, 8.3; Bodlamskee, 8.1; Kiloney, Bufberry, Belle Leonne, Foxella, Dash o' Dink, 8.0. The Winter .Cup is. a problem irace, as of the 32 acceptors no j fewer than half are not - -without prospects. Swift Quarry is a | doubtful starter. Soneri is a warm I favourite but Leigh -Barton and 'Typhoon are both to be respected, although Typhoon so disappointed in yesterday's final trial that hi? owner said that he might not take his place in the field to-morrow. Lady Chips will also carry heavy support on the totalisator. Others in the big field with excellent prospects are Findon, Bonny Flight Nepeta, Imperial, Ganges, Tribal Night (if started here), Tutere and Foxella. The winner is likely tccome from the above named horses. but if she lives up to expectation on the day Lady Chips is. sure to make it interesting -for the favoured division. 4.2— AVONHEAD HANDICAP, of £500. |One mile. — Lord Elgin, 9.6; Alajmode, 9.3; Tomahawk, 9.2; Burnbrae, 9.1; Wane, 9.0; Persuade," Joy Rosa, Bitter Sweet, 8.12; Tifox, 8.11; Manatone, Winning Ticket, Deep Harmony, Eudora, 8.8; IForeign Ways, Quadrille, 8.6; Sir Tague, 8.4; Blue Orchid, 8.2; Gallimaufry, 8.1; Provider, Deficiency, S Denim, Kirkkella, Liquidate, Hand|sha;ke, Leigh Note, Soft Light, 8.0. ! Ih the ;fconcludirig event, the Avonhead : . Handicap, Broughton should erijoy; an armchair ride on Lord Elgin if he can steer him clear qf trouble ' in ' the early running. Burnbrae • has good form as also i has: Persuade. 'fTifox is teaching i his best and ;h'e Shoiild ncit return to Trentham! ' \Viihout collecting ;ome stake money. Winning Ticket and Deep Harmony are not without ! prospects. If a surprise is in store the likely lightjyeight iiiight be Blue Orchid.