view raw text
GRAND NATIONAL GOSSIP Vigilant Favors Stephen Sanford s Sergeant Murphy for Aintree. English Tnrf Writer Considers That Sllvos Fall Is More Significant Than Believed. The following discussion of the leading Grand National candidates by Vigilant is reprinted from the London Sportsman of March 5: Judging from the latest quotations the general opinion seems to be that the Grand National is confined to a smaller number of horses than usual this season, but it must not be overlooked that such prominent candidates as Silvo, Conjuror II. and Taffy-tus have to some extent fallen from grace. The Aintree course is a law unto itself, and because a horse falLs over the Park jumps he does not necessarily prejudice his chance at Aintree. All the same, I differ from the general view that Silvos lapse at Gatwick can be dismissed as of no consequence, for I do not like to see a horse with such a brilliant record suddenly take to falling, particularly as I am satisfied no real excuse can be advanced for Silvos falling last week. The sure-footed Conjuror II. performed moderately at Leicester, but as the race was won by his stable companion, Fly Mask, with a big pull in the weights, I do not think we need pay too much heed to the form, and I prefer to rate Conjuror II. on his victory over Kirkharle and Music Hall at Manchester and still more on his grave effort at Aintree last year. CONJUROR II. SHOULD BEAT TAFFYTUS It should be any reasonable odds on Conjuror II. accounting for Taffytus, and on the Gatwick form I hold the opinoin that Super Man is a force to be rekoned with. He is fairly certain to reverse the placings with Eureka II. and confirm the form with Chin Chin. Apart from other; considerations Eureka II. has not the scope of Mr. Bankiers gelding, while I do not expect Chin Chin, fine a fencer as he is, to stay the tiring journey. There is, for that matter, nothing to show that Super Man wiil see the journey through, but I think he is a stayer, and should, at any rate, account for Eureka II. and Chin Chin. Taking everything into consideration, perhaps the most attractive proposition at the moment is the 20 to 1 offered against Sergeant Murphy the hero of twelve months ago. Of course, the old fellow is getting no younger, but Blackwell is giving him every chance. He won last year with all the extra seven pounds in hand he is now set to carry, and I can advance no reason why he should be any worse for being a year older. On last years running Shaun Spadah should be upsides with Mr. Sanfords horse, but I much prefer the "Sergeant," in that he is having his preparation timed, whereas Shaun Spadah 1 has been run out for his engagements, and is not improbably training off. 1 Fly Mask, stable companion of Conjuror II., may have to be considered, but the latter has the better credentials, and Fly Mask is not certain to stay the course. This disposes of the front rankers, so I take a glance at some of the lesser lights. Music Hall will not, I fear, stand winding 1 up, while Gerald L. has proved beyond dis- i pute that he is not the horse he was twelve : months ago, besides which he was never over- sound. Hawker cannot get the distance, but ! Alcazar is a possibility, and though some ; exception can be taken to his fencing, he seldom falls. Moreover, he got round safely in the Champion Steeplechase last year, and finished within a length of the winner, Silvo, at even weights. His stable companion, Punt Gun, is something of a mystery, for, although in retirement since Christmas, he appears to be doinjr good work, and with his experience of Aintree he cannot be left out of the reckoning. For the time being judgment at Punt Gun should be suspended, but I am rather confident that he or Alcazar will be Pooles best. In view of his erratic performance at Kempton Arravale cannot be seriously considered, yet I am by no means sure that Whitaker may not find a better representative than Silvo. It may be a "large order," but I have never been able to accept Silvo as a Grand National horse, and Arravale failing, the St. Giles trainer can fall back on Catamaran, Libretto, Palm Oil or Peter the Piper. There is not much in records of the last four to inspire confidence, but Peter tho Piper has an outside chance, and he rather impressed me by his appearance and style of fencing when he ran so well at Kempton about a month ago. We shall probably seo him at Cheltenham next week, when I expect he will prove himself a useful animal. Pen-coed, Master Robert, Fluid Magnesia and Soldier Bill have some sort of claim to recognition, and it is good policy to await further results before committing oneself to a definite opinion. Still, I fancy Whitaker, Coul-thwaite, Poole, Hastings and Blackwell between them hold the key to the situation.
