FAVOURITE IN STEEPLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 133, 7 June 1937, Page 13

FAVOURITE IN STEEPLES

Returning tb cross-country racing, Royal Banquet was the public choice for the Grandstand Steeplechase, . and his superior pace, on the flat enabled him to have control practically all the way. First Bonnie Rollox and then Riotous took him' on, but though Riotous outjumped him at several fences on the last round he drew away again on the .flat and finally also beat Sporting Song for pace in the run home from the last fence.

Royal Banquet's jumping was always safe, though he was getting in a little close to 'some of the fences and losing way. ' Along the back the last -time A. Jenkins was watching .his opponents and. did not seem to desire to draw away more than was needed to retain a safe " advantage. Then between the' last two; fences Riotous, after jumping to terms, ran right in On him and squeezed him against the rail, but he luckily escaped serious trouble and was able to hold his place. In taking a fallen brush at the last fence he lost ground, which enabled Sporting Song to g?t . within, challenging range, but lir an all-in*flnish he.drew out again to score by nearly a length. Sporting Sorig, making, his second appearance during the day over fences, came on well.over the closing stages and was« the only one able to extend the.winner. Except'for one jump at the fence' near the three furlongs at the end of the first circuit his jumping was sound. He now has a record of two firsts and -two seconds in ■four races over country. .. . '

Riotous, after a .big effort to head off the favourite on the last round, was. beaten at the time he ran, or possibly slipped, in on Royal Banquet. Hi 3 third was about eight lengths back. Platter again proved a hard ride, though his jumping was fairly safe, and he tired over the ■ closing . stages into fourth place. Rioghail was always last.

Battleground fell at the first of the doubles on the first circuit, for a time becoming trapped under tjic rails when trying to get up. Bonnie Rollox stopped at the end of a round and was pulled up. He had gone in a tendon, so his racing is likely to be over for the rest of this winter. Prior" to liis breakdown he had been pecking after landing over some of the fences.