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GRAND NATIONAL ELIGIBLES . Conjuror n.s Fine Race at Cheltenham Makes Him Favorite Sergeant Murphy Reported Progressing Favorably, but Has Done Nothing la Public as Yet. The following is the last correspondenco received by mail from Daily Racing Forms English correspondent on the Grand National. BY E. E. COUSSELL. LONDON, England, March 14. Not for many years do we appear to have so many horses in the Grand National which are capable of completing the most tiring course in the world. The number of horses that finished in the race in 1021 and 1922 was absurdly small. With fields of about thirty runners only four finished, including the remounted Turkey Buzzard, when Shaun Spa-dah was successful in 1921. Twelve months later when Music Hall won the National only four again completed the course, tho fallen animals numbering twenty-seven. On the other hand 1923 was notable for tho fact that twelve of the twenty-eight runners fell or were pulled up. A similar state of affairs prevailed in 1920 when Troy-town was the winner of the National. That year there were twenty-two runners of which six only met with disaster in the race. Among tho probables with luck to finish this year may be reckoned Shaun Spadali, Sergeant Murphy, Drifter, Conjuror II., Silvo, Taffytus, Eureka II., Chin Chin and Music Hall. Other possibles are All White, Fly Mask, Gerald L. and Alcazar. There is no doubt that the fine effort of Ccnjuror II. in the Cheltenham Gold Cup not only impressed onlookers and critics, but it has also influenced the bookmakers, sinco before that race Silvo was favorite at 10 to 1 with 100 to 9 offered against Conjuror II. and 100 to 7 against Fly Mask. The last named rather spoiled his record yesterday at Cheltenham by falling in tho National Hunt Handicap, three and a quarter miles, in which he carried 158 pounds and started favorite. He jumped badly at the start. He improved later only to fall at tho water jump second time round when going well. Vaulx, which is not engaged in the Grand National, won the National Hunt Steeplechase, in which race he and Fly Mask had finished third to Alcazar twelve months ago. Then Fly Mask was strongly expected to gain National honors. He met with an accident and could not run at Liverpool. This year Fly Mask had jumped in brilliant style in his last two races. WON SPRING STEEPLECIIASE. At Leicester on February 19 he won the Spring Steeplechase of ,075, run over three miles. He carried 157 pounds and won by three lengths, with Conjuror II., 167 pounds, placed sixth. A week ago at Lingfield Fly Mask scored a six-length victory in tho Buckhurst Steeplechase, run over two and a quarter miles, with 166 pounds in the saddle. His fall at Cheltenham naturally caused his National price to lengthen. As for Conjuror II., before he ran at Cheltenham, he failed behind Fly Mask at Leicester. Previously he won most impressively at Manchester, where with 163 pounds up, he won a three-mile steeplechase by a neck, with Music Hall a bad third under 163 pounds. The one objection to Conjuror II., which is a powerfully built animal, is that he does not possess what is regarded as orthodox "leppers" pedigree. He is a bay gelding, twelve years old, by Garb Or son of Bend Or from a mare by Juggler. This does not look like stamina, but in that respect Conjuror II. is a negation of his lineage. Last year it will be recalled he finished third in the Grand National when he had 165 pounds up. This year he is called upon to carry eleven pounds less, meeting Sergeant Murphy on eight pounds better terms and Shaun Spadah on ten pounds better terms. Nothing has been seen of Sergeant Murphy for over six months, though reports from Newmarket as to his promise and well being are satisfactory. Still he is a year older. Drifter ran terribly in the National Trial Steeplechase at Gatwick a fortnight ago. RIDDEN BY nARUY BROWN. Conjuror n. was ridden by Harry Brown in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. By the way, Mr. Brown will be his pilot at Liverpool. Conjuror II. put up a fine performance, though he was beaten a head. He apparently was not greatly fancied, for the distance, three and a quarter miles, was not far enough to reveal his true merit. His chief characteristic is stamina not speed. At two and a half miles he led from Red Splash. The latter regained command three fences from the finish to win a magnificent race by a head, with Gerald L. a neck behind Conjuror II. This was the fifth successive victory of Red Splash the only five-year-old in the field. He is clearly a high-class young horse. Gwilt, who trains Gerald L., made no secret at Cheltenham he had this good horse to his complete satisfaction. He had evidently overcome the effects of the accident almost on the eve of the Grand National, which may have cost him the race last year. He looked vastly different than when he ran so moderately at lingfield a month ago, that being the fourth outing in which ho failed to gain a place, though Gwilt naturally slowly applied the pressure. That Lingfield race was won by Eureka II., a steeplechaser with a big reputation. It was in that race when Silvo damaged his reputation by falling, though in excuse it may be mentioned he was "blinded" at the jump by another competitor crossing him. Chin Chin, 162 pounds, was third to Eureka II. At Cheltenham he finished sixth at level weights behind Conjuror II. and Gerald L. Fly Mask and Conjuror II. are both trained by Coul-thwaite, who enjoys a deservedly great reputation as a trainer of jumpers. Probably the last named will prove his best for Liverpool. It will be seen the position in regard to the serious Grand National competitors is in a most interesting stage. Possibly further light will be thrown upon it by the results of Hurst Park Trial Steeplechase, three miles and three furlongs, decided tomorrow, and the big races at Sandown next week. The latter is a difficult course. Still proved ability at "Park Meetings" and at Liverpool is by no means tle same thing. Taffytus, after his victory at Sandown,
