The Press.
London, England, 1853-05-21 00:00:00

Siporting.

(TO THE EDlTnit OF " THE muss.")
Sir,-1 think it will turn out that the leading
horses of this year are good. The public running
and the private trials both lead me to the sante
conclusion. John Scott won the Derby last year with
a well-trained pony ; this year he comes to Epsom
with one race-horse, perhaps with two.
West Australian, by Melbourne out of Mowerina
(the name of a farm of Mr. Bowes's in West Aus-
tralia), is not only a good public performer, but one
of the finest animals that ever appeared on the turf.
Ile has never been sick or sorry during the long
pinching winter—lies done everything, both in public
and private, that could be wished or expected of him
—he comes to Epsom with an Mat of no common
victory ; and Longbow (the horse that has been lead-
ing gallops for him) has just carried off two races in
one day at Manchester, giving in the Union Cup
seven pound and a beating to the King of Trumps.
In the 'l ,t guineas, West Australian met and de-
feated several of the best tried horses of this year;
and. in spite of all that is threatened by the supporters
oC Sittingbourne, 1 expect to see that beating un-
mistakably repeated. liittingbourne probably missed
with advantage a few of those rattling gallops in
winch the Newmarket trainers break down their
horses: he was consequently (although reported by
the " tOlitti" to be doing no work) clean anti fit, with-

MAY 21, 1853.

out being overdone, and will have great difficulty in
mending his performance in the 2,000 guineas, which
was of a very high class, although, like Elis, he met
with another Bay Middleton in West Australian. lie
is a fine home ; an inch taller than the favourite ;
thouzh by no means so full of muscle, or so powerful
in his frame. We are told that he can be improved
seven pound—but I doubt it ; but even that improve-
ment would not be sufficient. Depend upon it the
better horse you can make him out to be, the better

you make his opponent.
So much for the two best public horses of the year.
After them comes Orestes, who beat (at two year old)
a large field of horses in the Woodeote, which
field has since furnished no 1,14,4 than six winners,
viz., Gossip, Sylphine, Dagobert, Speed the Plough,
Ethelbert, and Desdemona. He is a good.looking
horse, well bred, and well trained ; but I cannot
think he will win the Derby. His party, however,

are confident.
Pharos, like his forerunner, Harbinger (who was in-
troduced last year with such a flourish of trumpets to be
cut up so disgracefully both at Epsom and Ascot), is
a nice, light, peacocky horse. He beat Sittinghourne
at Goodwood as a two-year-old; but I cannot think
that he has made the same improvement ; for Sitting-
bourne was a very large and backward horse last
year. Should I be wrong in my conjecture he will
run forward, but I expect that he will be in difficul-
ties at the old place, viz., opposite the Stand.
Urnbriel is well, and fit to run. lie would have
had a capital chance in last year's Derby, but I can-
not fancy him for this. The same may be said of
Orinoco.
Barbatas, Filbert, Brocket, and Fthelbert may run
respectably ; but respectability never attracts Mr.
Clarke's attention, or helps to till a purse !
I now come to the mysterious division, at. the head
of which figures the redoubtable Chirac. Like Dog.
berry, Chums has had his losses, and experienced his
reverses. Now at 12 to 1, and anon at 40, he has
astonished and perplexed us throughout a long and
dreary winter. In my own opinion, he is fitter to
precede the royal procession on a Cup-day at Ascot
than to head a field of horses for the Derby. His
public performances are worse than nothing ; and
the private performances at Dauebury 1 have long
ceased to believe in. Coldrenick, Nil Desperatulum,
and Chatterer have cured me effectually of that
disease which is so prevalent at this season of the
year, viz., credulity. I no 1 roger place the conti •
donee I once did in the " Man in the Street," or be-
lieve that untried horses are fliers, because 1 am
confidently informed of the fact by some one whose
only object is "to do ute good." A good horse re-
quires no bonnetting, any more than go:ad wine neels
a bush ! If he go out of the betting entirely, so much
the better for his backers ; but it' a middling horse
once lose his place in public opinion all the money
goes with him, and the scramble to get out. is
teritic.
Iloneywood (another Junius) is reported to be so
good that a large party of gentlemei have bought
him between them. I expect to find him um over-
rated horse. John Osborne is a first-rate judge of a
handicap ; but he has never won a Derby yet, and
this, I can assure him, is an awkward year in which
to make his debut.
Ninnyhantmer has no pretensions to he considered
a good horse ; in his proper place he will pay his
way, but we want something better than the Gossip
form on Wednesday next at Epsom. He may be
brought into a little transitory notice on the strength
of a reported trial, but I cannot consider his chance a
good one.
Jerry Kent was introduced to our notice the other
day by old .loe Rogers himself (in his most amiable
manner), who took 40,000/. to 1,000!. about him. lie
is now at 25 to 1, so that the acute elder will have
the hest of the hedging—an advantage which he is
not likely to throw away.
Cheddar, if well, will beat a great many. Peggy
ought to he kept for the Oaks. Iltirworth most
likely will not start, and Vanderderken might us well
be left at home. At this moment it is difficul to say
what outsiders there will be, but they are evidently
far from numerous, and their owners anything but
fond. Their chance, then, is a poor one—worse,
indeed, than usual—for there are several good horses
in this Derby, and I think one Flier!

PHTLIPPUS,

BATH AND SOMERSET 11ACES.—TVES1)AY.
LANSDOWNE TRIAL SIAKI of 15 bOl4l. each, wit!► 50
added. . .

.....
Duke of Bedford's tiossip (S. Ste; glee) I
Mr. l'owney's Lamartine 2
Mr. W. Harrison's Russhorough
Betting opened at evens against Lamartine, but closed
at Uto 4 against him ; 5 to 4 taken about Gossip. Won
cleverly by half a length.
SECOND YEAH OF THE 131ENNIAL STAKES of 10 bOVII. each,

..... -.... --. ... ...
with 50 added.
Mr. l'avnea Glenavon ..( Flamini) 1
31r..1. Sl. Stanley's 31assena ... 2
Betting: oto2 on likuavou. 11't.n1 very easily.