The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-08 00:00:00

TO rill IDITOI OT Till ZIETZUS.

Six,—More horrors were in store at Northampton
for those who endeavour to " pick out" winners of great
handicaps, the first and second in the Northamptonshire
Stakes being the veriest outsiders of the fifteen runners—
starting at 100 to 1 each—and the St. Liz falling to the
lot of one "beaten in her trial" for the City and
Suburban by an animal that played a very sorry part in
the Epsom race. Add to these reverses the truly alarm-
ing reports concerning the public's Two Thousand Guineas
and Derby horse, Plaudit (who threatens to succumb
under his preparation," so tired, if not lame, does he
pull up after a long gallop), and the new phase in the
story of Soiled IMve, and who can wonder at the
racing world being in a state of tribulation just
now! I little thought when mentioning in my
last that the committee of Tattersall's had con-
sented to further hear the case of this Hover's daughter
(reputed) what would come of it, end Admiral Howes
secession must grieve even those who disagree with him
over the matter, as but for his industry many a wrangle
would have been prolonged to a most tedious extent in
days gone by. It may reasonably be supposed that a full
quorum of five will meet on Saturday next to finally dis-
pose of Soiled Dove and her belongings ; but how shall
we get on afterwards, seeing it was always difficult to
bring even three together, and " the Admiml" a standing
dish among them, to settle disputes? Whether the first
" decision" will be altered, and the backers of the filly
not be made to pay over her as losers, besides refunding
their winnings, is a point hardly fair to discuss; but it
would be a great triumph for Admiral Howl were
it to be confirmed—a consummation so devoutly to
be wished by " bookmakers," who will suffer heavily over
the two Newmarket selling races she ran in should it be
ruled the backers of she Dove had no chance of winning,
and consequently cannot lose, as in one of them she was
backed in a single bet for 500 f. to set the market for the
winner, whilst in that she won the Tribute filly was the
only one supported, the betting between the pair being
unusually . heavy
. . . . . . . .

NorthiLnpton introduced us to some Food horses of all
ages, the two.year-olde being a rare lot if they were not
numerous, and nearly all of them will assuredly be heardof
again, the Althorp-park lot being too backward altogether
for the flying Lady Elizabeth's success, much time as she
wants, to be jeopardised. The youngsters that ran in the
Whittlebury, however, had no chance against the threes,
the best of which turned up in my fancied Bismarck,
though I was unprepared for such a falling off in the
Flying Scud, who in the Racing Stakes could not beat
Ataliiiite with his 51b. advantage in the weights. The
Amanda colt ran respectably in the Stakes, but would
have been beaten by Lecturer as well as the four-
year-old Quick March had it been necessary, and the little
Hero ran • great horse, if he was not great enough to win.
The Queen's Plate showed of what stuff he is made when
he beat Regalia so easily ; and if they have anything better
at Danebury they may almost be justified in " potting it
down" at 6 to 4 for the Chester Cup, wherein he has only
Hat 21b, and is meeting his conqueror on I Ilb better terms.
At the same time, Quick March's chance must be as good
as his on the Itoodee; and should they go on right up to
and on the day the pair may be first and second again,
such • good old-fashioned race as the Northsmptonthire
Stakes not having been seen for some time. Lord Lyon
showed us in the Trial what class could do when he gave
Moulsey such • ridiculous beating ; then we had the
value of speed exemplified in the Earl Spencer's Plate,
which Mr. Pitt won in his old gallant style, that must
have made Danbury bite its lip almost savagely- and
the excitement was kept up by Orne and IS ild Agnes
literally running away with the Cup Stakes and St. Liz,
performances showing that the Abergeldie and Endaleigh
mysteries at Epsom were not the only glaring mistakes
owners of horses could make in • fortnight, es Orne ought
to have won—or nearly won—the Northamptonshire
Stakes with rat 91b, and Agnes the City and Suburban to
a certainty, had they been allowed to run. A singular cir-
cumstance in connection with the Northampton meeting
was the victory after victory of animals weeded out of
crack stables, Quick March (now called Miss Havelock)
having been millet out of Lord Zetland'm team for an eighth
of the stake she won, Orne out of the French, and Mr.
Pitt out of J. Day's, for very small sums indeed, and Wild
Agnes by Mr. Padwick during the latter half of last
sermon ; and their late proprietors have not even
the dog-in-the-manger consolation of thinking they
won by " flukes." To keep up the charter and
help swell the funds of the men of figures, the
Grand National Hunt Steeplechases at Bedford
came off dead against the gentlemen, in despite of the fields
being weaker than usual, and the course such a safe—not
I easy—one • but it is to be hoped that with the close of the
steeplechase season (for there is nothing important left
among the fixtures now, except the grand rSuniovi at
I'unchestown in the Two Thousand week), the miseries
of backers are over, and that Newmarket at least will do
them the good turn it has so often done them before.
All the business of the next three weeks worth attending
to will have to come off at " heed quarter," Think being
the only meeting worth mentioning that clashes with the
('raven, whereat much has to be done between sow and
Friday next, albeit there is but little wool in the great
crying pragramme, and only Tuesday's card sill be
anything like • full one. There is, nevertheless, a
good feature in Monday's Llist, as the Free Handi-
cap will doubtless bring together the majority
of the twenty-one acceptances, who are so well
adapted to the last six furlongs of the Rowley Mile.
Ostreger will like it amazingly, for all his 94 71b, as will
also Cecrops, who is certain to be backed if better than
Bismarck at the weights, having only to give Abergeldie
10Ib. The latter was always in front in the City and-Sub-
urban, and is not quite out of the fray, if he does look •
bit worse than Lord Ronald, who should do for Paris at
Set :fib each over three-quarters. Lord Stamford must
find Archimedes in • quiet frame of mind to possess a
chance, which Christmas Carol cannot he said to have,
there being far more danger in the three-year-olds:
Jasper, with Leases so uncertain, is the pick of these ;
but the French Czar is only giving him 61b for the year,
and did so well at times in public that I shall stand him to
win, and give the next places to Lord Ronald and Jasper.
As regards Monday's three-year-old events, my fancy
points to Ls Sorrentina, Eglamonr, and Narno, In their
respective races ; and Nike and Ulphus shall represert me
in the matches.

On Tuesday the Newmarket Handicap will help to keep
the game lively, there being no " good thing" in the list,
though Apsley Ischia, Wild Briar, Serlogapetam, Numa
Blinkhoolie, and one of kir. Brayley's, will pro-
txtbly be backed, especially if Othello and Gilead are ab-
sentees. Apeley pulled up rather "dotty" at Northanip•
ton, or he should have my whole confidence here, the
doubts concerning him compelling me to fall back upon
Numa Pompilius and Seringapatam. The Three-year-old
Biennial is hardly likely to afford us a peeict3the Rake or
not Julius ; neverthe the coming Hermit, and p
together of D'Estournel, Taraben, Vauban, an Wroughtou
is on the cards, with Eglamour, the Sundowerfilly, Ravioli,
Arundel, Foresight, and some new lights ; and if Taraban's
lest trial was not a mistake, he ought to win. The
General has most to fear from Midwife in the Sale Stakes,
and Grinmton from Clement* in the Beacon Stakes.
There is no dealing with the 100 Soya. Sweepstakes ,•
the 50 sova. being a ticklish matter also with Rake out of
the way and Hippie reported gone off ; end not much can
be made out of either of the matches, my fancy being for
Lend Tax and the unnamed filly. The remainder of the
programme must be very summarily dionissed, my selections
being as follows :—Ringtail Screamer for the Column ; Hip-
pie, the Sweepstakes ; and Roll Call and Kingsley, the
matches, on Wednesday ; Westwick, the Biennial ;
Auguste, the Claret ; Clemence, the Abingdon; Ravioli,
the Alike Produce ; and Speculum, the Two-Year-Old
Sweep, on Thursday ; the other item closed being subject
to the Biennial race on Tuesday; and the Toxophilite colt,
the Port ; Vauban (with Ravioli next), the Bennington ;
Hippie, the 30 sous. ; Friponnier, the 30 soya ; and
Pyrenees, the Match, on Friday.—l am, Sic.,
METEOR.

TATTERSALLS.—SntortnLT.

The subscriptlonroom was extremely well attended, and
speculation wits brisk little was done on the Chester Cup, the
Two Thousand and herby nionopolising nearly the whole of the
afternoon's tnumactlons. For the firstroentioned race Plaudit
was in a little better odour, the Cs to 1 that were occasionally
forthcoming against him being taken, and In the end no more
than 100 to 30 was offered. Julius was particularly quiet. As
little as 9to 1 was laid about Vauban, and at a point more he
would have been supported very freely. Marksman was In mode-
rate request at 12 to 1, while the General, Palmer, and Fermata
were each offered to be laid against without a response. The
lour price of 1,000 to 15 was laid against Master Butterfly, and
the same odds continued to be offered without fludlog takers
Meanwhile, a desire was evinced to back the stable companion,
Lord Ilastanp, and ill response to often of 50 to 1 a orooosal was
made to accept 1,000 to 15. A new outsider—the Lead ng. mit —was
backed at 5000 to 150 with a start, and the owner of Stradbnike
offered to accept 6000 to 25 about his representative. Even
money was offered against Plaudit fora tc:and 3to 1 against
Knight of the Harter for the like contingency; for the latter
400 to 100 was asked for. For the Derby c Rake was in pretty
good demand, and after being backed at 74 to 1, 715 to 100 was
booked. The odds against Hermit were 9to 1 offered D'Es-
tournel was supported for a limited sum at 12 to 1, but the
same odds were obtainable thoughout Plaudit was frieudlese
at 100 to 8. Taraban was in demand, with 18 to 1 taken about
him; Omnd Cross would have been supported at 1000 to hut
1000 to 40 were the highest odds offered. Julius was backed at
1000 to 35, and Ferranti at 1000 to 15. Master Butterfly was
friendless at 60 to 1 offered. Clown( quotations

CH EBTER CUP.
8 to 1 'get Mamds of Haatlrv' Lecturer, 4 yes, Itstllb'off
1000 to 60 Mr. Waukee' tick March, 4 yrs, eat 10th
Yb to 1 M. de la C.'. dlle. Cleopatre, 4 yrs, 681 (t)
00 to 1 Mr. Heathcote's %curing, 4 yes, 7st A,

TWO THOI'dAND.
100 to 30 and Major Ebrou's PLaudit 4,f)
6to 1 -- Duke of Newcastle's Ailing WO
9to 1 Duke of Beaufort', Vauban kt and off)
10 to 1 Mr. Cbsplins Hermit L)
12 to 1 Mr. Merry's Marksman (t)
1000 to 60 Captain Mat-heirs lialOt of the Garter (ME
1000 to 30 Mr. 11. Button's The General (off
1000 to 20 Mr. B, Esetwood's Lord Hastings :01r, t 1000
to 15)
1000 to 20 Mr J. Hawley's The Palmer WI)
1000 to 00 Major Fridolin's Emmaus (off,
1000 to 15 Mr. R. Eastwood's Master Butterfly 't and off'
5000 to 150 Mr. W. Day'aThe Laminae gun (0, with astartJ
5000 to 25 Mr. J. fitephemon's Stradbroke (off to take)
Even apt Plaudit, 1,2, 3, off
Ito 1 Agin Knight MM. Garter, 1,2, 3 (off, MO to 100: