1938-03-23 — Page 21

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 23, 1938.

LINCOLNSHIRE GAMBLE

TO-DAY'S LI

HUGE FIELD THIS YEAR?

LUCK OF THE DRAW

London, March 5. THE Lincolnshire Handicap which opens the Eng- lish flat racing season, dates from 1853, and has attractions which are lacking in some of the later handicaps.

There is a distinct possibility

this year that if the mild wea- ther continues, the record for the Lincoln field established in 1932, when 36 competed, may be besten.

fore the race but without avail- It has been pointed out that stay-at- home backers are entirely in the dark when making their bets when the places drawn by horses are not announced until half an hour be fore the start.

They argue that there is no. reason why the draw should not be made known several days beforehand as is done in several Australian States.

This is one of the alterations in THE LINCOLN, FOR ONE THING, IS ALWAYS MUCH

the rules of racing which is much MORE OF A GAMBLE. THERE IS LITTLE FORM TO GO UPON

desired not only for the Carholme EXCEPT THAT OF THE PRECEDING YEAR, WHICH IS OF

There are nearly 50 horses still but for all big races on which PROBLEMATICAL VALUE IN LOOKING FOR THE WINNER left in the race so that there may there is ante-post betting. If such IT IS ALMOST AXIOMATIC THAT THE FITTEST HORSE AND easily be a record field to face the a regulation could be introduced NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST HORSE, WINS THE LINCOLN starter. With such a field, the there would not be the startling

question of the draw becomes vital change in betting which often oc The race abounds in "jobs, for the race, is also a North coun-

Year after year efforts have been cur in the last half hour before and many a trainer, keeping his try horse. While Mrs. J. Shand's made to have the results of the such races as the Lincoln. horse fitter than is generally horse is six years old, the mile is known, is consequently able to his right distance, and if he is în bring it out at the last moment the best of condition, he should be trained to the peak.

од

(near the front at the finish despite Then there is the gamble of the Class always tells" should be ap- his weight of 9 st. 4 lbs. The axiom

draw. The slight curve

.the Carholme course means

plied in weighing up his chances that the

as he is the best bred horse in the low numbers apart from a horse on race--indeed he was third in the the rails, who might be an excep-1936 Derby. tionally fast beginner, get drown-

Following in the betting.come

èd out by those on the outside as two Newmarket horses in Peter they make a dash for the rails. Kane and Discord. The latter, There is the inevitable scrimmag-owned by Mrs. James Rank, and ing which may result in accidents trained by Major W. Beatty, is a similar to that which occurred two four-year-old who won five out of years ago when several came down his eight races last season. He was and one of the most fancied candi-becoming a dangerous horse in al- dates, Tom Bowling, was killed.

Apart from the luck of the draw, ended, and, he is in

(most any company when the season the Lincoln the trainer who has his quarters in with 7 st. 6 lbs. Of course, much a place where he can get good gal will depend on where he is drawn, lops early is at a great advantage and perhaps more on his fitness for the Lincoln.

when he goes to the post

MOST FANCIED CANDIDATE

PROMISING FOUR-YEAR-OLD

For this reason J. Russell, the Peter Kane, another four-year- South African, who trains on the old, trained by Captain P. Whit- sands at Mablethorpe in Lincoln-taker, is reported to be a “rod in shire, is particularly well placed pickle". He was coming on tremen- and has proved this by winning the dously at the end of last season race twice in four years, with Play A group of southern trained On and Overcoat. His most fan-horses follow in the betting. Gun- cted candidate this year is Gal-boat, trained by C. Peck and owned sonia, a five-year-old who is at pre-by Mr. J. B. Joel, is a six-year-old sent second favourite for the race who showed good form in the Ascot Mythical Ray, another of Russell's, Hunt Cup last year, but never did has engendered a lot of quiet con-anything else of note. fidence.

Gibbons, owned by Ben Warner, Although the winter in the North clever commission agent, and is more severe, than in the South, trained by E. Gwilt, many North country horses have astute man, is, it is said, being an equally been specially trained for the Lin-trained especially for the Tace. coln. Scarlet Princess, 2 four-Strictly on form the chance of this year-old, trained by Harry Pea-four-year-old is not outstanding, cock, is spoken highly of Four-but the gelding may be more use- year-olds and five-year-olds such as ful than the form indicates. Scarlet Princess and Galsonia, have a fine record in the handicap.

Laureat II, who finished second to Marmaduke Jinks last season, is another fancied animal, who never runs a bad race. He, also, is own- led by a commission agent.

Since 1853 the race has been won 29 times by horses of each age. This compares very fa- vourably with the 14 times in

A North country horse which has! which a six-year-old has won come to fore of late is Hornpipe, and the 6 times in which a

trained by R. Renton and owned by three-year-old has won. Seven-

Mr. C. Webb. This four-year-old year-old horses have only won is in the race with 7 st. 4 lbs. The four times. Scarlet Princess is a smart filly, tania Stakes at Ascot last season, horse ran very well in the Brit- who won her two races last season and a little later he was made a 5 in the first four weeks. She has 7 to 2 on chance to beat Chulmleigh, st. 13 lbs. in the Lincoln and she the St. Leger winner, at Chepstow was carrying 8 st. 13 lbs last year He has been hurdling all winter when easily winning the Wisbech and has won two good races so

es that Handicap for Fillies.

the should at least be fit when the Last year Peacock's stable won Lincoln starts. this race with Marmaduke Jinks, who is again an entry, though this The top weight in the Lincoln time from C. Nightingall's estab-this year is Dan Bulger, a former lishment.

PRESENT FAVOURITE The present favourite for the Tace is Squadron Castle, owned by Mrs. W. P. Ahern, and trained by C. Cowie at Chester. This horse,

TOP WEIGHT

Cambridgeshire winner, owned by Sir Abe Bailey and trained by E Cottrill He has been asked to shoulder 9 st. 7 lbs., and perhaps this would not be too much for him

a five-year-old, won one race at if one could be sure that he would

Haydock Park last season and it be

was none too impressive"

-formance. „But÷2¬

been invested on his

Thankerton,

when the race came round.

favourite latter point

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