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DUETHSTE IS GOING BACK How Widener Candidate Has Fail ¬ ed in Two Recent Races Alexander Smith Cochrans Libretto Attracts Attention for the Grand National and Arravalo Continues to Impress Greatly LONDON England February 23 Most people are inclined to regard the result of the threemile Newbury Steeplechase on Febru ¬ ary 21 as a big blow to American Grand Na ¬ tion prospects The race itself was a Na ¬ tional trial and created a great deal of in ¬ terest Unfortunately the going was ex ¬ tremely heavy as a result of awful weather Opinions are divided as to the problems the race appears to have settled Nine Grand National horses competed Forewarned and Punt Gun were on the spot but not saddled the latter on account of the bad going the former because he was pricked in shoeing and required veterinary attention attentionA A thrilling finish was witnessed but it concerned Arravale and Old Tay Bridge only the former winning by a neck because he had the better speed Newbury is the favorite course of Old Tay Bridge which ran the race of his life He failed to give eight pounds to Arravale which fairly ran Old Tay Bridge out of the race from the last fence over which the latter led The win ¬ ners rider never had a moments anxiety Arravale was always in the first three and jumped in a remarkably clean fashion fashionDUETTISTE DUETTISTE STUMBLES BADLY BADLYDuettiste Duettiste and Turkey Buzzard were much fancied Opinions seem divided as to whether Escott has in his stable this year sufficiently formidable trial tackle for Duettiste Escott however is a most skillful trainer and knows exactly what is required for the trying course at Aintrce AintrceThe The stable were sanguine as to Duettistes chance at Newbury with the result that he started a 2 to 1 favorite with solid public backing He ran well for over two miles and ihcn made a blunder at a plain fence At the water jump he met with some inter ¬ ference from Gardenrath which eventually finished fourth Three fences from home Duettiste landed badly he was on his knees and threw Escott out of the saddle It was disappointing He was far from disgraced though after this occurrence his ardent ad ¬ mirers lost some of their enthusiasm about his chance at Liverpool next month monthBefore Before the Newbury race Duettiste was quoted at 12 to 1 for the Grand National The same evening 20 to 1 could have been obtained about his chance while Arravale had hardened to nine nineThe The victory of Alexander Smith Cochrans horse Libretto in the three and a half mile Walton Steeplechase Handicap at Hurst Park on February 1G has attracted a good deal of attention Old Sergeant Murphy which was giving nineteen pounds finished third but could easily have been second Certainly the supporters of these horses were satisfied with the result Libretto car ¬ ried 145 pounds He is trained by Percy Whitney who also has Arravale ArravaleIt It is generally known or rumored that in the National weights Arravale is im ¬ mensely superior to Libretto This may be a tale at any rate it is difficult to ascer tain the truth about both horses No doubt if fit and well they will run independently at Liverpool Libretto will undoubtedly cre ate a lot of interest the next time he runs He is not a stronglooking horse being rather on the leg but he jumps like a stag and has a lot of speed speedHe He has done all his racing in Ireland in which country he was bred It is reported he was sold for 510000 His victory at Hurst Park was his first start in England EnglandLibretto Libretto is by the Frenchbred Book a gray son of Palmiste His dam Bonnie Es poir was by Bill of Portland a son of St Simon This hardly looks an orthodox Grand National pedigree pedigreeArravale Arravale was the unluckiest horse in the National field last year when he was ridden by Percy Whitakor then over fifty years of age Mr Whittaker has this week under gone an operation to his back due to an injury received while schooling a horse He has expressed his determintion to ride Ar ¬ ravale again at Liverpool next month monthARUAVALES ARUAVALES HAD LUCK Twelve months ago Arravale was one of the leading four horses the first time around aroundand and he was going well indeed until he reached Beechers Brook AVhen making the thejump jump he caught sight of the dead horsa Awbcg on the ground beyond the fence lie flinched jumped sideways landed on top and so destroyed his chance which at that period of the race was second to none Per ¬ haps fortune will be kinder to him this year for he is racing better than ever everArravale Arravale is by Ardoon a linelooking son of St Frusquin dam Lady Ina the dam of the Chester Cup winner Our Stephen wluVh was subsequently sold to India She is by Sir Edgar son of Kendal dam Pass by Town Moor from Old Ole by the American bred Foxhall fateda If an Americanowned horse is not fated to win the Grand National perhaps a good horse with a cross of Americas blood in his pedigree will prove successful for Arravale is one of the finest jumpers we have seen for many years Any way the United States will have an unusual amount of interest in the Grand Nalio next month Editors note Since this failure in the Newbury Steeplechase Duettiste failed once more when he fell in the running of the Grand National Trial lit Gatwick This wai another bitter disappointment to the adnxr ers of the Amerirvi horse It must b id mitted that on pibllc performance the son of Ethelbcrt and Hul ibclla appears to have gone back from hij brilliant form of tvrii r in his preparation bjf those who know the horse and know Ksiti best are still stijKm loyally to him and many sportsmen from this side will be on hcnd noping to applaul his victory
