The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-03 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TXPRZEIB.

BM—Mosso° fought hard to hare the great
international race run on a Sunday, and no other Sunday
than that before Ascot, and if there is anything in the
defeat of D'Estournel to boast about, he was certainly a
(miner this year in so far as concerns his vanity—by the
" fixture" being made. What with English and Scotch
prejudices to raising on the Sabbath, the rumours of dis-
temper among quadrupeds in l'aris (•I, and the strong in-
ducement to hold out to three-year-olds to remain at home
for Ascot, our best champions declined the battle,
and but for the Exhibition it is question-
able whether Mr. Bull would have had much
to do with the fifth " Grain Pree" in any shape,
He would doubtless have preferred " alienating,"
like the Prince of Wales, at the sale of the
royal young bloods at Hampton on Saturday, and if he
were so vile as to take up his lkil on a Sunday, could
peruse the last instalment of the never-ending Soiled Dove
correspondence whilst our neighbours were more actively
employed. He would find the letters very instructive,
and make the discovery that gentlemen understood to be
above suspicion themselves could impute the vilest
motives to their fellows, but would see no loophole for a
satisfactory adjuattuent of the " difficulty" which has been
raised in such bad taste. The sales, too, would tell him the
difference between ready money and " pay to-morrow," for
the " mutation" prices and general avenges jut made at
Hampton were alarmingly below those of last year ; and it
is palpable already that the new rule of Messrs. Tattersall
will bring about a radical change in the blood stock depart-
ment. The disastrous results of the Epsom events, over
which gentlemen received such dreadful "facers," no
dooht had something to do with the had averages made
on Saturday, when one or two good things were almost
given away, the bidders being so few and far between ; but
whilst " money down "is the rule we shall not hear quite
se much of fabulous prices, either for yearlings or the ser-
vices of stallions, 1001/I.—not to my 110ga—being as much
too high fora visit sa • figure like 2,500 p. is for the pro-
due thereof, even when the youngster has been reared in
such llnursery OA Hermit, Marksman, and the Rake all mum
out of in one year. The Ascot two.year.oldgracearnay tempt
the two great-priced Middle. Parkers of 'IX, St. Ronan
being in the Tenth Biennial of Tuesday, and if be can
beat Suffolk ht will he worth more than the money Mr.
Chaplin gave for him, though this is to be doubted. The
Baron threatens to he in his old form at the meeting, har-
ing a most racing-like filly, Nyanza, in the Queen's Stand
Plate, and from what she did at Newmarket she certainly
has a chance even against such tlyeri as Cecrops and Xi,
who Sr. so great at aT.Y. C. Her Majesty's Gold Vase
two miles, is but a question of Savernake being well, and
only in his emu* will there be a chance for Moulsey,
who should beat Rama at even weights, and also give the
three-year-olds the 211 b, though it ni not a certainty the
old-horse can dispose of Miss Havelock in a severe two
mile spin. Savernake is also in the two-mile Triennial,
which he will leave to Sealskin if " off," Mr. &wile
looking pretty safe for this stake now that the
War and Westwick party confess they would not
do for the Ascot Stakes at 7st. 121 b. and Set. respectively.
These being oat at the great handicap, Lucifer, ho Peer,
and Miss Harriette look the best in of the first half of the
lot before me, Zenobia having yet to prove she is not an
impostor; and not knowing much good of the three-year-
olds, except that Stephen Langton and the Vixen colt are
fancied in "good quarters," my vote is for Miss Harriette
and The Peer, unless Lucifer is really backed for good
money, in the event of which he should put both their
lights out. Many two-year-olds are in the Trial Stakes,
and some of them receiving as much as 7016. from
Ostregor- he is not bound to win ; albeit he is too good at
the New Mile to bedespised, especially as the young ones
will have such a difficulty in getting home. Nyanza is in
the Maiden Plate, the best of her opponents being l'neas,
so far ma the public lot are concerned : but this is an open
race, like the Prince of Wales's Stakes, for which the
beet of three-year-olds will spin. Achievement has a good
opportunity to show that her form hay not left her, for
Marksman, N'auhan, and Van Amburgh, to wh she
was so superior once, are to be contended against. Still,
I believe enough in the Oaks' running to suppose that
Marksman will turn the tables for the Champagne defeat,
whilst the " flyer" may not get rid of Van Amburgh very
easily. Colonel Pearson's filly will be more at home in the
Coronation Stakes on Wednesday, she there having only
to get over the old mile and Arapeile, Lady Hester, Ines,
Sunnylock, Ravioli. Highland Sister, Problem, Sic., and
the penalty should not stop her. Hermit is in
both the Ascot, Derby, and Ninth Biennial, and
will win whatever he is asked. He is not
penalised in the first-mentioned, so that Wroughton,
Julius, and Dragon can scarcely jeopardise his chance;
whilst the 1016 penalty in the longer race will not prevent
his heating The Palmer, Star of India, Master Willie, and
the like. The most open-looking race in the programme is
the Royal Hunt Cup, lilinkhoolie, Highland Sister, Har-
penden, one of Sir F. Johnstone's, and a host of others,
being whispered as good things, though if Regalia were in
trin, she could heat the whole lot. The Fernhill winner
will also tale some picking, the majority of the twenty-
three entered being A 1, and previous running and Limits
will be the only things worth following. The
Fifteenth Triennial is another puzzler, not one
of the public horses having done much, whatever
Forum, Mums, and others may do hereafter,
and there will be nothing for it but to stand a good
" darkie," as Michael de Basco is understood to be. Her-
mit has two more engagements on the Cup day, with
Marksman opposed to him in each instance ; yet the
Derby winner might confine his attentions to the St.
James's P..lace Stakes, and if Marksman should leave him
alone the,. he must achieve a bloodless victory. The
Litter has quite enough to do to win the Fourth Biennial
(wherein he has to give Van Amburgh and Wild Moor
weight, and rim Lord Lyon at 211 b); and he, too, may
" shunt" the Cup, which will then be shorn of many of
its attractions. The rumours of Savernake being
" screwy" again are very rife ; and as he, Marksman, and
Hermit are the best horses in the race—except, perhaps,
the Rake, who is not likely to rise Ascot—the
owners of Hippie, Owain Olynderr, Dolby. Viridis,
Regalia, Lecturer, and D'Estournel will have to be
thankful, for then there will be only Rama (now is the
Hermit havered) to trouble them over the two miles and
a half. Nevertheless, Mr. Merry is partial to cup trophies,
and should be run Marksman, the horse will prove him-
self good stayer enough to win, Hippia being the moat
dangerous of his opponents after Hermit. Michael de
Basco and several others with prior engagements are in the
Fifth New Biennial ; and the New Stakes is another
item it would be scarcely fair to discuss now, hard as it
seems to find one fit to cope with Lady Elizabeth. All
three of Friday's closed races are just as badly situated,
for it is " not proven " yet that Achievement can beat
Vauban and Van Amburgh this year, even over • mile,
and all Coot are in the Triennial-1 am, &c..

METEOR.

M.TTING IN LONDON.—S.IrcanAv.

Theatten Luce at the clubs was anything but numerous. and
speculation. although. taking • wide mute. was, generally
speaking. for small amounts. For the Grand Prise of Paris Pa-
triclen snit frKstournel left off the two favourites at 2 to 1
and 6to respectively. Fermi:spies. the winner. was not men.
Honed. For the Ascot Slakes Zetiobia was In strong demand.
as little as is to I helm finally taken about her. The Then
colt was ne..t best f ivourlte at 100 to 0, and some four cornea
others came in for moderate support. A host of hones were
hacked for the Royal Hutt Cup. kidUe. Cloopatre and Highland
aster befog most fancied. For the Northumberland Plate
Lady Vane w..a laid against to the extent of about MOM 10
to 1. while Fervamiues and Challenge were each tacked at 100
to 7 The onls bet on the St. Leger was six fifties about Achieve.
'scut. Odsotat lona as follows :

Bomar STAMM.
G to I nett 7...nnbla f i 100 to 6 asst Vandervelde
109 to 3 Vitea colEt et 0) I 20 to 1 Lord of the Dales
15 to 1 Ifflinkhoolle (1!