London, Feb. 29. year's Grand National steeplechase, hardest, longest and most difficult race in the world, over four and one half miles with 30 six-foot jumps, is likely to be one of the best in its 101 years' history. It will be run at Aintree, Liverpool, April 5. Not only will it be the first really big race since the war started, but it also may well be the only sporting event in any field on a pre-war scale this year.
There are indications that there will be very little organized cricket, and the major golf and tennis tournaments are likely to be scratched for lack of competitors.
The National entry of 59 is not only a strong one, including 18 of the 37 who competed last year, but it is also a surprisingly good one in view of the war, being only ten lose than 1939, and comparing with 79 in 1938 and 60 in 1987, Tie United States is as well represented as/éver J. Hi "Sock" Whitney and F. Ambrose Clark have two entries each, and Jesse Metcalf and Mrs, Louis Stoddard one each.
The 18 "who ran last year, with the positions id which they finished, are: Workman (1) Macmoffat (2), Kilstar (3), Symaethis (5), Dominick's Cross (6), West Point (7), Royal Mail (D, Bachelor Prince (10), Under Bid (11), Inversible, Milano, Tuckmill, Dunhill (Castle, Second Red Freeman, Rockquilla, Royal Danieli, and Black Hawk.
The only previous winners entered are Workman (1990) and Royal Mail (1937).
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.