view raw text
1 1 . i : : I : : 1 ! 2 - 2 - 1 1 e e ? t s e :. e 1 o s e e ,-. I- !" e r. t- by y e, e. 1, it y id of 3f - MORE OF NATIONAL HOPES . Vigilant Continues His Discussion of Candidates for Big Race. Although Expert Thinks Well of Sergeant Murphy and Drifter, He Prefers Punt Gun and Conjuror II. In Aintrec Event. Vigilant, writing in the London Sportsman, continues his discussion of the leading candidates for the Grand National Steeplechase, to be run at Aintree next month, as follows: In the Grand National Hastings has four horses engaged, Super Man, Master Robert, ! Newlands and Ardvasar, and we need waste no time on the last two. but the other pair are well entitled to consideration, if only for the reason that they have both done well over the course. Super Man beat all but Silvo gave nine pounds for the Grand Sefton last Novem-j her, and with a five-pound pull in the weights is not at all unlikely to reverse the placings. over the longer course. This much is cer- tain, Super Man is a big force to be reckoned with, and I have reason to believe that, all going well, he will be well backed before the day. , His stable companion. Master Robert, en- jovs the distinction of having beaten Shaun Spadah gave ten pounds for the Valentine Steeplechase, about two and three-quarter miles, and though the latter came to grief at the last fence, the winner appeared to be going quite as well at that point. Obviously, therefore, a case can be made out for Master Robert, especially as Shaun Spadah is d!s-advantageouslv handicapped to the extent of eighteen pounds. I prefer the better class Super Man, while accepting Master Robert as a good outsider. HARTIGANS CHARGES. F. Hartigan can choose from Old Tay Bridge, Ardgour and Royal Edgar, though I cannot say that any one of them makes much appeal to me. Old Tay Bridge rather un-, sound when fit and well is a good horse, over about three miles, but he has no pre-J tentions to stay the tiring journey at Air.- tree, a remark which applies equally to Ardgour. There are possibilities about Royal Edgar, whose form in Ireland proves him to be useful, and recently he was most unlucky loser at Sandown. Still he lacks experience and I fear the Weyhill Stable has small hope of capturing the cov-e eted prize next March. This brings me to Fergusons trio, Waves town, All White and Soldier Bill, and all have some acquaintance with the Liverpool country. All White has been talked of in past vears in connection with the great race, but instead of making progress All White has been on the downward path since he ran so well at Liverpool a few seasons ago and I cannot say that I am attracted by his chance. WATETOWN AND SOLDIER BILL. Wavetown finished a fair third behind Shaun Spadah for the Bechcr Steeplechase last November, while Soldier Bill figured prominently in the Liverpool Foxhunters Steeplechase last March, but not one of them seems to possess the necessary qualifica-- tions to win a Grand National, Both Sergeant Murphy and Drifter, trained by Blackwell, have much to recommend them, for while Sergeant Murphy won the race last year Drifter was runner-up to Music Hall in 1922. There is.no recent form to guide one as to which is the pea, but at this stage I prefer the Sergeant. Taffytus, by virtue of his stylish victory over Pride of Manister and a useful field at Sandown recently and his acquaintance with the Aintree country, must be taken f into serious account, though he is, in my, opinion, too small for the job. therefore we must chiefly concern ourselves with Sergeant 2r Murphy Blackwell, Super Man Hastings, j e- Conjuror II Coulthwaite, Silvo and Cata-j ii- maran Whitaker, Taffytus Leader, Punt an m Gun Poole, and. perhaps. Max Ireland, al and while considerable light should be a- thrown on the race in the next few weeks, I have no reason at present to change my previously expressed opinion that the great J event will fall to Punt Gun or Conjuror II. J j I g I a a r I . i i , j j t , t t j i - , j ! j , , i ; ! i, aj . ! I I I , i t 1 i r l 1 t
