WITH THE GALLOPERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 284, 26 July 1932, Page 6

WITH THE GALLOPERS

riccarton form SOME POSSIBILITIES ~IN * GRAND NATION AL STEEPLES. •GENERAL JOTTINGS. (Notes by "Canard.") . With eighteen left in the Grand National Steeples after the first forfeit, sixteen in the Grand National Hurdles, and a mere 36 in the Winter Cup, ante-post better s are likely to have their work cut out to sort out the winning sequence. * * * Talcing the Steeples first, Billy Boy has retained his position and with all his- 11.13 will have a reasonable ehanee. Since 1876 till 1890, when the race was over four miles, six horses with over 12 stone have won the race, "Horrie' Lunn's Canard carrying the record l'or the race of 12.10 to victory From 1891 onwards, the distance has been about 3 h miles and five have carried over the hundredweight and a half. Coalition, with 11.13 and 12.7, iii 1920 and 1921, really bears off the palm for weight-carrying in the reu«3. * * * Paris will command a good deal of respect, but he is not a sure jumper. and the chances of the Hazlett white, cmerald and gold colours getting round .ro j rouleniatieal, despite the fact that 'r> finished second last year to Snowfall with 9.13 and second in the Wellington Steeples to Billy Boy with 10.3. He meets the topweight on 41b better terms. Snowfall, last year's winner, with .3, has gone up 191b and in the meantime has worked well. Snowfall is ^he veteran of the race, for he is 15 off and will be 16 after July 31. His jumping is his best asset. * ^ « Lucess is given a great chance by the Cambridge contingent and the son of Lucullus has a third in the Great Northern Steeples this year to his .redit. Doubts have been enhartained about his staying power, but he has a iine record of minor placings over chree miles and more. * * * Hig'li Pitch would read more happi.y in the Hurdles, but "Jimmy" Irwin assured "Canard" that he was a cercain staruer in the Steeples and that 10. 1 was a luxury weight to him. He has consistenlly beaten Foxhound (one of the best stayers in the North Island) at work over 2 miles, and the recent racing at Trentham will be to nis advantage. He should run well. jut may he pneferred in the Hurdles. * ^ * Lc-rd Ranald made a sensational lebut two sea.-ons ago in leaping com- . any and was haiied as a Grand Naxonal certainty but he is very unsound, and if he starls he will most likely nvak down before he finishes. Fit and well, he would have to be reckoned with, for the Masterpiece gelding is a fine performer. ❖ * ❖ Lancer is another with a dickey fcreleg and his trouble is in tne susyensory ligament — not an easy matcer io overcome. H-e failed at the Comuined me -ting on Saturday and wjii have to improve to beat some of the other contestants. * * * Town Beauty lacks nothing on the core of jumping ability and has showa • hat he can get three miles over Ellerslie country. The absence of the hill will be in his iavour, but though he •aas twice_defeated at Trentham it is understood that he had refused his feed for several days Should he barome more settled at Riccarton, he must be given a show on the score of jumping alone. * * * Calham has won a couple cf minor steeples and' his chance cannot be regarded as too brilliant, though his '.veiglit will stand to him. * * * Hard Gold, on the other hand, ran cwo n.ce races at Trentham and loolcs like making a sound 'chaser. He is mostly trained on the hunting field, and though he fell, was not altogether at fault, being interfered with by a iiderless liorse. He has a reasonable chance this year, but will be a better proposition next, with more experienee. * * * Mata is another veteran and a win for his lady owner would be popular, but it is unlikely. He has lost a lot of his pace. * * * * Taramoa has been accepted for by optimiits, though he did win an Otago steeples on a protest. Nylotis is another of about the same calibre. * * * Royal Visitor c ertainly won over the Ellerslie country, but gave such evidence of non-staying at Trentham that the form must have been all wrong. He is a bad traveller and this may have have been the reason for his disnlay. II •. miglit do better at Riccarton, but will have to improve out of all knowledge to have anything but a wild chance. * * Deportment was placed at the Combined meeting, and it should not be forgotten that he won the hardest steepl.;s in New Zealand, the Great Western at Riverton. If there is to he an upset from the lightweight lot he is the one likely to do it He is a halt'-brother to Lord Ranald. * ❖ # Valves jumped so shockingly at Trentham that he cannot be recommended. * * * The acceptance fees for Bon Aryan must be paid by a humorist, unless he Is a dark horse. Nothing in his career suggests that he has a dog's chance, though surprises have happened before. f S: * Early favourites are likely to be : Billy Boy, Snowfall, Lucess, Paris, Hard Gold and Deportment. * * :fc Later articles will deal with the Grand National Hurdles and Winter Cup. I