GRAND NATIONALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 33, 7 August 1936, Page 13

GRAND NATIONALS

THE ACCEPTANCES

NO REAL SURPRISE

Although there are slightly smaller numbers in the'fields for the three principal events at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National Meeting, the acceptances received last evening foithe opening day on Tuesday " very closely approximated last. year's figures, the total for the eight races being only three lighter than twelve months ago.. If the Grand National Steeplechase be left put of the count, the other events have drawn exactly the same number of entrants in aggregate, and they are rather better distributed.

Generally it may be said that there have been.no-actual surprises in the acceptances for the main items. The three horses who dropped out of the Grand ■ National Steeples, : Thurina, Dunmure, and Battleground, were expected to defect,' and two of them have ariother engagement to meet ■•> on the opening day, after which they will probably add their, strength to the two later big steeplechases. The/final field . of eight is three less than last year, and the favourites will continue as Diamond and Billy Boy, with Royal Limond, Manawatu, and Punchestown probably best favoured of the others. The Winter Cup lost only three further horses at the acceptance, Bay Duke, Travenna,- and Great Star, and ' the first pair are in the payment for the Paparua Handicap. Bay Duke's preference for the sprint has been in order to obtain the riding services of . L. J. Elils, who is to pilot Wino in the Winter. Cup. The seven topweights are still in the field, including last year's winner, Epris, about whom there have been repeated rumours, but whose presence in. the acceptance, would appear to show that, all is well with him.'••; The' field now numbers eighteen, five less than twelve months ago. ...". '.'■ .■.' . ' . ''.'.■■.. BIGGER MINOR FIELDS. The first four events ■. on Tuesday's card have each attracted a slightly better field than last year, with the Paparua Handicap and the Jumpers' Flat Race having four more acceptors apiece. The open sprint promises to be a well-contested race this year with its field of fourteen. Grand National • Hurdle aspirants who will be seen in action in the Junipers' Flat are Jolly Beggar, Polydora, Clarion Call, Travelling -Agent, Silk Sox, Streamline, Journet, and probably-Haeretonu. The only National candidate's who will run in the Trial Hurdles are The Smuggler^ John Charles, and possibly Haeretonu. Val Watch and Ruaform are not-en-gaged on the opening day. ; ♦^ • The other two events on the first ■' day's card, the Enfleld Steeples. and the Avonhead: Handicap, are a few horses less than last year, and1 the En.field -field ot seven (against nine acceptors last year, though there were only seven starters) will probably be the smallest of the day. With twentysix acceptors, the Avonhead Handicap is still the largest field on the day. A division will not be necessary, but the final four horses will, probably have to comprise two brackets, as there is accommodation for only twenty-four numbers on. the- Riccarton totalisator.. ■ The Grand National Hurdles, which • will be,decided on the second day, has a present field of thirteen, which is two less .than' last year at this stage,, but most of the acceptors may be regarded as likely runners. Four horses dropped out at the payment, the only possible surprise being-Salt Spray, The seven topweights'have.,held their ground. ;:. tIST OF; ACCEPTORS.

The list of the acceptances for the first day (per Press Association') are:— TRIAL HURDLE HANDICAP, £250; l-'i miles. 1 Tho Smuggler 10'13 HavorluK ... 9 1 Salt Spray .;. 10 10 Lord . Hereford 9 0 John Charles . 10 1 Rodnlont ■..!.!) 0 Santoft 9 ;» . Battleground . 9 0 Haoretanu ... '•> 1 PAPARUA HANDICAP, £200; C furloiigs. Emissary.. 9 9 Hpfornta ........ 8 2 Greek Gold ..;,!) r. Copyist. ....' S 0 Knockfln ...i'9 2 Arena ......^ S 0 Dollar BUI 9 2 Arrow Rose .. 8 0 Bay Duke ... 9.1 Gaysome .... 8 0 Travenna ... 9 1 Ada 8 0 I'ukeko ...... 8 B Epic 8 0 JUMPERS' FLAT RACE HANDICAP; £200; l'/i miles. ' Polydora — 11 3 Travelling .lolly Bcscar . 10 13 Agent 0 0 Clarion Call . 10 8 Salt Spray II 8 Silk Sox 10 2 Streamline ... !i 1 Signaller ..... 913. Joiirnet ...... 9 n Courtyard ... !) 11 Haorctoim ... 9 0 ' CASHMERE PLATE, £200; 0 furlongs. Arrow Glen '.. 8 11 Tarboe . 8 11 Autumn Wind 811 Coxcomb .... S 0 Capo Gabo".."." 8 11 'Impact « (I Culottc i. . S 11 Mnka AM S 0 Derive. ....'.. 8.11 Nulpul ..:... 8 0 Jedforcat' "-..'. 811 Orance. Bud . s' 0 John Ball '... ■ 8 11.: Rc'collcctluii . .. 8 0 Lochttiit ...:. '8 11 Aosscuu .... SO' Miss Shambles 8.n' Sir Hugh S fl' Pink Comet .. 8 11 Riinbeam .:.. S:fl Itoy Bun 8 li Tmlieht Song S 0 .Silver Tox .. 8 11 Themldor ... S 0 GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, £1000; 0'/j miles. Billy Boy ....'ll 3 l'uiichostown . 10 0 Diamond 10 13 Palm 9 f! Royal Llmond 10 8 ManaTvtitu ... 9 3 Fgrest Glow ..10 3 High Speed ..9 0 ENTIELD STEEPLECn-VSE, £-230; about 2 miles. Thurlna .... 12 1 Otaura King . a 1 Kaokaoroa ..9 8 Burglar . 9 i Nocturnns ..9 5 Money Mine .9 1 Itoyaton .... 9 s WINTER CUP, £600; 1 mile. Queen of Song 10 3 Rona Bay S • tprl» ...... 8 13 fiolden Dart ..8 2 Concertpltch .. 8 13 Boomeraii" 8 1 Fair Weather . S 10 Wino " 8 0 •W-ilene 8 9 Kojnl Gallant . 8 0 1'onty 8 9 Metal Bird ... 8 0 J J"°'o S ■) Tho Surgeon.. 8 I) Wall Street ... 8 3 Silk Arrow ... SO Cranford .;... 8 2 Mount Val .... s « AVONHEAD HANDICAP, £200; 7 furlongs. Queen Dorothy 9 S Polygraph ... 8 3 Cyclonic ..... 9 5 i'oniard .... s 3 Hunting Maid . 9 4 Owlstcleara ..83 Grey Honour . 8 11 Emmellno Girl 8 2 liraw Lad ... 8 11 Gasmask ..81 Cintllla 8 10 Jack 'Ahoy ... 8 1 Madam - ; i'lord .... 8 i Pompadour 8 10 Monipere .." s 0 Tail Light ... 8 10 Call Monoy . SO Sovereign Lady 8 10 The Sandwich Matoru 8 8 _M, m s 0 Rose of Traleo 8 8 Arabna S (» Latitude .... 8 (i Itndtop ..... s I) I'almjra " .;.. S C Lady Kate . S 0 SECOND DAY. GKAND NATIONAL HUIiULE BACK HANU1CAP, £700; about 2J4 miles. Jolly Beggar . 11 4 Streamline .... 9 U Polydora .... 10 9 Silk Sox a G Clarion Call .. 3 0 I) ■ n.uform .... 9 S Val Watch ... 10 3 Iloyal Llmond . 9 3 Travelling I. j o)m Charjoa .90, . Agent 10 4 Journet !> B v lite Smuggler. 9 13 Haeretonu .. !) 0