WEIGHT TELLS IN NATIONAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 424, 4 August 1928, Page 6

WEIGHT TELLS IN NATIONAL

BEAU CAVALIER’S TASK Though few horses with top weights have succeeded in the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, Beau Cavalier is at present the popular fancy for the big Riccarton event. He scored in last year’s contest with 11.7, top weight, and his admirers expect him to take a lot of beating again this month. To some extent backers must be guided by past results in all the important jumping events and handicaps, comments the Christchurch “Sun." In past years the Grand National has been a fairly good race for the heavyweights, though out of the last dozen contests only three top-weights been returned winners. The following is a list of the topweights, and how they have fared, since 1915: — 1916 Braeburn, 11.11 .. .. Unplaced 1917 — Art, 11.6 Unplaced 1918— Master Strowan, 12.7 Third 1919 Waimai, 12.7 Unplaced 1920 Lochella, 12.7 Unplaced 1921 Coalition, 12.7 •• .. Won 1922 Coalition, 12.7 .. .. Unplaced 1923 Oakleigh, 12.0 .. .. Won 1924 Oakleigh 12.5 .. .. Unplaced 1925 Sir Roseberry, 12.3 .. Unplaced 1926 Passin’ Through .. Unplaced 1927 Beau Cavalier. 11.7 .. Won The weight-carrying record for the big Riccarton event is held by Canard, who, way back in 1886, when the journey was four miles, won with the steadier of 12.10. But Agent is undoubtedly the hero of the long-estab-lished event, for he won it on three occasions. In 1879 he carried 12.0 to victory, he won the following year with 12.7, and in 1884, with 12.6 on his back, he won again. Oakleigh the Last Oakleigh, in 1923, was the last to succeed with over 12.0, but two years previously Coalition carried 12.7 to victory. So it will be seen that Beau Cavalier is set no impossible task to win this year’s event with 12.5, and with all his weight he is going to be difficult to beat. In the Wellington Steeplechase Beau Cavalier conceded the winner, Pouri, 321 b, but in the Grand National he meets the Spalpeen gelding on 81b better terms. As Pouri was very tired at the end of the big Trentham race, he will need to improve to beat Beau Cavalier at Riccarton, especially as there will be over two furlongs more to travel. Anything may happen in a steeplechase, and though it is argued in some quarters that Pouri, aided by his light impost, will wear Beau Cavalier down, he will need to have improved in stamina since he last raced to do so. It is possible that Pouri’s rider, E. Warner, will adopt the same tactics as in the Wellington Steeplechase, by attempting to make Beau Cavalier carry his big weight all the way. But W. Bowden, rider of Beau Cavalier, is a thoroughly experienced horseman and is not likely to be caught napping.