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ON NATIONAL CANDIDATES Vigilant Reviews Chances of Several Stables in Liverpool Race Run March 28. The success of Sergeant .Murphy in the Grand National last year in the colors of Stephen Sanford, son of John Sanford, the well-known American breeder and turfman, cf Amsterdam, N. Y., has aroused more interest in this country in that worlds famous jumping race than was ever manifested before. For that reason Daily Racing Form is prompted to offer all the latest news concerning the big race, which will be run Friday, Marcli 2S.. Here is what Vigilant, writing in the London Sportsman, has to say concerning the chances of several of the large English steeplechase establishments in the Liverpool race : Although stable intentions in connection with the Lincoln Handicap remain more or less obscure, the light that is shed almost daily on the Grand National makes it possible to form a fair opinion as to which animal or animals are likely to represent the many stables that have more than one horse engaged at Aintree. That always dangerous Hcdncsford establishment can choose from no less than seven, namely. Conjuror II., Fly Mask, Glengarry II., Dukes Walk, Templescoby, Flying Laddie and Fairy Hill II., but if Coulthwaite is to saddle the winner there can, I think, be little doubt that it will be one of the first two. In fact, one can almost go further and take Conjuror II. alone, seeing that Fly Mask performed indifferently at Manchester lost Saturday. VICTORY OYER MUSIC HALL. I was not at Castle Irwell on the Friday when Conjuror II. so cleverly disposed of Kirkharre and Music Hall, but I am given to understand that the gelding fenced faultlessly and that he is no straighter in condition than one would expect at this juncture. All things considered then, Conjuror II.s recent performance was highly satisfactory, and, in view of the fact that, well as he ran at Aintree last year, he was decidedly unlucky, I am already satisfied that if all goes well in the meantime and given average luck in the race, he will account for all the top weights. Moreover, it is much in his favor that H. A. Brown, who is so well acquainted with the course, is to have the mount. Whilakers lot, Silvo, Arravale, Catamaran, Libretto, Kwang Su II., Palm Oil and Peter the Piper, are not so easy to separate, though I think the three last can be left out. Silvo, on the contrary, has done much to make him worthy of special consideration, for he can not only boast of a victory in the Grand Sefton, but continues to win over the Park courses with consummate ease. The points against Mr. Midwoods champion, as I see them, are three: 1 He was thoroughly fit before Christmas ; 2 Witli 170 pounds he has a big weight for a comparatively young horse ; 3 He has yet to prove his ability to stay the course. Comparing Silvo and Conjuror II., I dp not admit that the former has any pretensions to give Conjuror IT. upward of fourteen pounds over the Grand National course and it will not surprise me in the least if Whit-aker finds a better at the weights. I am afraid Arravale is out of court, which leaves the stable with Catamaran and Libretto. Now, as a good outsider I would as soon take the former as any and while admitting that it is against him that he has yet to make acquaintance with the Liverpool country Mr. Beauchamps gelding has not Continued on twelfth page. ON NATIONAL CANDIDATES Continued from first page. been overdone and at his best I am confident he is an extremely useful animal. As a sou of Shogun by Santoi he should possess plenty of stamina and at AVindsor a month ago, when much above himself, Catamaran defeated Pride of Manister gave four pounds over three miles. Now, the latter in receipt of fifteen pounds made a good fight with Silvo at Lingfield on Saturday and if Catamaran can jump the Aintree fences and no exception can be taken to his jumping, I doubt if Silvo will be capable of giving his stable companion twenty pounds next March. Libretto is a fine jumper, but hardly the sort to stay the distance and while I am in no way inspired, there is reason, as I have endeavored to set out, to think that Catamaran may be Whit-akers best. Another trainer with a strong hand is Poole he being responsible for Shaun Spa-dah, Alcazar, Punt Gun and Manby Gate. The last, although a winner at Aintree, need not be seriously considered, but any of the others may be capable of winning. Shaun Spadah has already done so, while there is much to be said for Punt Gun, which finished fourth for the race last year and won the Grand Sefton of 1922. The latter, indeed, was my first fancy, even before the entries appeared, and though there are two stories about him I have reason to believe that lie will be the stables best, and difficult to beat. Alcazar is a good horse over Park tracks, as he proved at Lingfield on Saturday, but his fencing leaves something to be desired, apart from which he is not likely to stay the course.
