Corineus Warm G.N. Hurdles Favourite

Chronicle (Levin), 13 August 1948, Page 6

Corineus Warm G.N. Hurdles Favourite

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WELLINGTON,- August 13. The feature event at Riccarton tomorrow, the middle day of the Grand National fixture; will be the Grand National Hurdles, in which Corineus, with an imp.osing list of hurdle suc,cesses, is one of the warmest 1'avourites in the history of the race. -This young Waikato hurdler, ajthough yyeighted at 11.9, which is above the average impost carried successfully in this event, nevertheless, holds bright prospects of success. It is- a strong field open to the unsuspected, but barrrng accidents the topweight will certainly take a lot of beating, A feature of the race will be Brookby Song's attempt to emulate Padishah, who won both Grand Nationals in 1939. - The Hawke's Bay-Dannevirke Hunt Club meeting will'conclude at Hastings tomorrow. Fields in all' events are reasonarbly large. ' ;

Acceptances are so good for the secon'd day of the National meet-, ing that provisions had to be made' to run the Aylesbury, Sumner and; Woolston Handicaps in divisions. Outside of four or five the large' field engage'd in the National j Hurdles is not a strong one. Foreigrii Ways and Grand Coulee are likelyj to start in the Spreydon Hacki Hurdles in which the distance and, prospects are more . favourable.! Corineus' most dangerous opposi-j tion is likely to come from Boolam-j skee, Skywriter, Brookby 'Song,' Desert -Trek and Foxchase. Boolamskee, last year's winner, is very fit and in the past few days has cbme| into a strong second favourite posi-: tion. Skywriter, one of the "find" hurdlers of the season, is handilyj weighted and is a distinct prospect. Al'though he has been finishing in his races Desert Trek has been dis-i appointing, bufc the distance of this race will suit him. He might be the surprise horse of the race. He was fourth last year. Brookby Song, the champion steeplechaser of the season, has no good form asj a hurdler, but being fit and a grand! stayer he will certainly keep thej rest of the field busy to keep with: him. In fact it would not surprise! if he does achieve Padishah's record, as it is on the cards he might. be in a hurdling mood. Ballinagh is already being claimed the .wimier o.f • the Islington Handicap, but Royal Tan, Indian Dawn, Aganev, Clyde Bridge and, Broie will all keep him right up toi his work. After his good performance in the Winter Cup Distinction will certainly be one of the hardest to head off in the August Handicap. How-: ever, it is made up of a strong field with such good milers as Da.Vinpi, who unluckily slipped and fell in the starting stall as the barrier w&s released in the Winter Cup, Leig^i Barton, Julius Caesar, Wild Note, . Duvaals, Connaught and Wonder

Boy. Of this lot Da Vinci, Wonder j Boy and Connaught might be the trio to worry the favourite. Prospects for both meetings tomorrow are: 10.32. — Aylesbury Hack Handicap (7 furlongs) — First division — Cricket Field, Profane. Second division — Resolute, Elofa. 11.22. — Sumner Hack Handicap (9 furlongs) — First division — Super, Wee Mac. Second division — Ballochbuie, Volomai. 12.7. — Beaufort Steeplechase. (2| miles)— High Moraie, Troytown, Eleanor Star. 12.52. — Woolston Hack Handicap (7 furlongs)— First division — Baccarat, Faultrcsa. Second division — ftival Chase. Money Lender. 1.42. — Gr,and ' National .Hurdles (2-1 miles, 160 yds.)— Corineus, Boolamskee, Brookby Song. 2.27. — Spreydon Hack Hurdles (2 miles) — Grand Couiqe, Speciaiist, Foreign Ways. 3.12. — Islington Handicap (1-1 miles) — Ballinagh, Royal Tan, Aganev. 3.57.— August Handicap (-1 mile) — -Distinction, Wonder Boy, Connaught.