SPORTING.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2262, 17 June 1880, Page 2

SPORTING.

TIMARU STEEPLECHASES

THE STRAIGHT TIP,

[By Electric Spark.]

The Steeplechase meeting takes place to-morrow and augurs well to be an unqualified success. The number of entries in the Tally-Ho Handicap are small, but the stamp of horses entered above the average, therefore some

splendid racing may be anticipated. The Stewards deserve to be commended for the excellent manner .in which the course has been laid out. The jumps are neither too big or too small, and there are no “ Mediterraneans ” to negotiate. All the “ dyers ” engaged arc in the town bar Miss Hungerford. I saw Clarence, Royalty, and Agent unboxed from the Christchurch express, and accidentally heard that they were to be stabled at Murphy’s stables. Robin Hood and Johnny are to spend the night’s respite at the Lynwood stables, while Goodman will take charge of Lone Hand, Shillelagh, Ivanhoe, Deceiver, and the Colonel, in the stone stables. I will now. without further preface, give the sporting public the benefit of my opinion as to the positions to-morrow : Tallo-ho Handicap —Agent, 12st lllb, is a veteran steeplechaser’, and if he starts for the money ho will be within an ace of landing it. Agent has proved himself the best steeplechaser in the colony, having scored live double events two of which were Grand Nationals. He will be pilotted by H. Lunn. Lone Hand, 12st 21bs, is in the pink of condition, and carries the reputation of being the Australian Champion. This grand horse won the last Australian Steeplechase, carrying Ibst 6lbs, and was handicapped in next steeplechase with a penalty of list 21bs, but did not start. If ho goes straight ho should score the win. Clarence, list, is in good fettle, and after winning the last £IOO handicap, at Oamaru, he should, under the guidance of Tom Lyford, give his enemies all their work to beat him. Royalty,lOst Olbs, is a good

jumper, and one of the straightesfc horses on the New Zealand turf, but I fear Tom Sheehan will not bo able to get him out of bis usual slows when on the flat. Ivanhoe, lOst 71b, has been a grand performer in his day, but I fancy the company will make the running too warm for him. Shillelagh, the “ sprig of the Shamrock,” 10d Gibs, has been very unfortunate of late, but if he stands on his pins he will make it lively at the finish under the pilotage of Goodman. If Lone Hand goes straight I will plump for him. Lone Hand... ... ... 1 Clarence 2 Agent 3

Maiden Steeplechase:—l fancy this event will be a moral certainty for Robin Hood, with Colonel (the blue roan) close up.

The handicaps for the Steeplechase Gup, not being declared till after the Tally-Ho Handicap is run I regret my inabilty to predict the result of this important event.

[By Augur.] It is difficult to understand the Talty-Ho Handicap, why the handicapper has asked Agent to concede 9lbs to Lone Hand, as the latter can run the Agent or any horse in New Zealand over country at level weights and win. Then again the Agent meets Shillelagh at 131bs better than he met him at Oamaru, when the Agent fell and finished in front of him. The more that the weights are criticised the more mixed up they appear to be. If Lone Hand is in proper form, he can win hands down, but as his roguishness is so notorious, I shall pass him and place Agent ... ... ... 1 Clarence ... 2 For the Maiden Steeplechase I fancy Robin Hood.