INTERESTING, THOUGH NEVER EXCITING

NZ Truth, Issue 1185, 16 August 1928, Page 11

INTERESTING, THOUGH NEVER EXCITING

Perfectly Ridden, Wiltshire Comes Home In Grand National Steeplechase

BEAU CAVALIER DID NOT SUSTAIN HIS LEAD

// was Grand National Steeplechase day at Riccarton on Tuesday and all that could be raked up to contest the blue riband jumping event of the year numbered seven—only seven runners for a stake of sixteen hundred sovsJ. It seemed too ridiculous to be true. Jumpers have been feu) and far between this Winter, but it is to be. hoped that it is only a passing phase and that—instead of going down the grade— the bad times have been left behind.

WITH such a poor field, both m quality and quantity, it was natural to expect a poor race, but actually this was not so; it was a good race as steeplechases go. When" betting stai'ted, money came strongly for Tuki, but over the last five minutes the support for Beau Cavalier mounted, and he went out the favorite. There was no messing about at the start and they were aoon on their long trip. The pacemaker could only be one horse and Beau Cavalier set out to carry out his task. He was unchallenged. Reeling for his head over the first circuit, the Beau jogged along with that immense stride 'of his and the field soon stretched out, Passin' Through . tailing the bunch. Wiltshire was always m second place and a few lengths behind him were Tuki and Pouri. ' The weight and the pace were starting to tell when the second round was entered upon, and passing the stand the second time there was little dash left m Beau Cavalier. He was tiring rapidly and showed the effect of his hard work. Still, he kept on leading, and after passing Cutts' he had a handy lead from "Wiltshire, with'Pouri and Tuki a fair way back. The sod wall was negotiated and then the kennels' double without any alteration m the places, the only movement being that Pouri. and Tuki had come closer. Running to the smaller sod wall, Syme, the rider of Wiltshire, made a forward move. It proved a wise one. The leader had to be tackled and it was better to take him on at a solid obstacle than at a brush. Wiltshire was a fraction m front taking off, but once he landed he easily shook Beau Cavalier off. With two fences to go, Wiltshire was home, barring accidents, and he cleared them m great style. In the meantime, Beau Cavalier was getting more tired and Pouri caught him just close to the last fence.

Taking off at the final fence, Tuki was behind, running fourth, but he finished too good for the tired top-weight. The close saw Wiltshire a winner by eight lengths. Pouri was a similar distance back to Tuki with Beau Cavalier two lengths away fourth. The winner deserved his victory. He could not have been ridden a better race. Syme, his rider, concentrated all his attention on Beau Cavalier, and he was right m doing so.

Never at any stage did he look like losing his position, and though at one or two of the fences he seemed to dip badly, he only made one real mistake. That was at Cutts', the first time. Pouri's effort was good, but not just up to the standard necessary. He was m trouble with the pace early, but at the finish he stayed on wonderfully well. Tuki is a peculiar brute. He goes the first olrcuit like a good one and then starts to lose his place. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIU

Over the last mile his rider gets tired kicking him, but it is m the gelding's favor that he keeps plugging along. Taking t this winter's form as a guide, it is not likely that he will win another important steeplechase like a Northern or a National. After Trentham, the opinion was expressed that a horse that was game enough to take Beau Cavalier on would beat him, and so It proved on Tuesday. With the lead he had six furlongs from home it was reasonable to expeot Beau to give a lot of trouble, but once Wiltshire gather* ed him he shut up quickly. A free goer, once he is caught he cannot give a bit more. Dubious finished fifth and that is all that can be said of him. He is not a great deal better than when he was at Trentham. Poor old Pamplona broke down and came back to the bird-cage on three legs. It was really a tragedy to see such a good horse as he was, finish his career m such a way as this. Surely now he will be pensioned off. A great steeplechaser, his passing is regretted. The Babe got sick of the business the second time round and refused to carry on. His rider let him have his way. Passin' Through was a runner, and his share of it was to be a bad last all the way. He did not seem too happy when lie came back and it may prove to be an expensive race. , The race proved conclusively thfrt a horse, to win a National, does not need to have a thorough schooling over the country, and that it does not hold the terrors that it once did. Wiltshire only had one go over the fences prior to Tuesday and then he made a mistake. Perhaps that mistake was a good one and acted something like the way of the stpry of the child and the fire. And so was run an interesting though really unexciting race.