The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-04 00:00:00

THE SPRING MEETING AT LIVERPOOL.

to tee coma or ens :teases.
SIII,—M6 announcement that "Noma Pompilius
was struck oat of the Nottingham Handicap at 3.20 on
Tuesday last " was all the satisfaction the over-anxious
public had for their blind following of the son of Romulus ;
and the way several of their old pets for the Grand
National seem to be going should not encourage them to
persist in forestalling owners of horses' especiallyafter their
experiences of Christmas Carol and Saccrometer at Lin-
coin. How the blind can lead the blind was singularly
illustrated in the case of Nunn. Pornpilius, • horse the
public had scarcely heard of until Monday last, when
rtunours of his having won a great trial, ens' an apparent
commission to "put the pot on" drove all the world
uiad to be on ; but for some reason he could
not run, and his victims have not even the
matisfaction of knowing whether the trial was all gammon,
or he will do another day, for, although taken to Notting-
ham, the clerk of the scales was told the horse would not
start, just when the information was worthless, as the
jockeys were commencing to weigh out. The stable was
unrepresented in the race after all Sweet Anne not being
quite ready just yet, though she looked none the worse
for her change of quarters ; consequently—as one of the
Beadle's most threatening opponents, Exoeller, met with
serious disappointment—another, the Lizard, would not
try when called upon—and a third, which shall be name-
ler, ins only out for • gentle canter on it/ way home
from a fruitier journey to Lincoln—the second to Vender-
velde hid it all his own way at last, and recompense.' the
Duke otHaznilton for any previous disappointment with
his LOW. purchase. The Beadle, however, could
not sustain . his prestige at Derby, and the fol-
lowers of Julius had better know a little more
of him before they book the Two Thousand a moral, the
" line" through Bismarck in the Lincolnshire Handicap
being a very dangerous string to hang upon, though M.
Dawson hoe undoubtedly made a good honest horse of his
trial nag. No two-year-old came out during the whole
week to touch Ninny ; and but fur Clarice's easy triumph
making her look well kr the Liverpool Spring Cup or City
and Suburban, the business at Nottingham and Derby
would not otherwise have called for comment. Nor will
the doings et the Liverpool " Spring " Meeting of the cur-
rent week possess more than a passing interest, apart from
the Grand National Steeplechase and perhaps the Cup, for
the two-year old races are unworthy of notice at present ;
the probability of the Tyro bringing out a second Lady
Olken, Dundee, or Big Ben (the first three in 1860) being
very remote. There will be far more fun got out of the
hurdle race on Tuesday, when the meeting commences
(frost and snow permitting, of course) ; and with Helen,
Fortunatus, and Chimney Sweep running to get a line for
Fan, Skakspeare, and Tennyson (or Doctor!), they should
all finish in Vie front rank, Helen having bid fair at Not-
tingham to make a first-class hurdle-racer. Ornament, a
promising filly enough last year, is in the Flying Handicap
at a feather; but Exceller may represent the stable after
the speed he exhibited at Nottingham. the evergreen
Queen of Trumps having to give him 151 b. The latter came
out fresh as a kitten at Derby ; nevertheless, upon the
strength of the relative performances of her and Crown
Prince with Landlord, Lord Westmoreland ought to beat
Lord Bateman, Indian Star holding the Queen safe also
from last year's doings, the probability being that Lord
Westmoreland has the winner in one of the pair, as Narino
can give his lordship's third string, Gipsy Queen, the 91b.
required. The mile Mersey Cup is rather too far for the
Star, so that perhaps Lady Pam has only Ulphus to beat
to win ; and if the Aintree Plate—five furlongs—is not
good enough for Crown Prince or the strangely-favoured
Salliet, a three-year old, Canard, may win that too. In
the second day's Sefton Handicap, over an extra furlong
she will not exactly prefer, Salliet has an extra 101 b. on
her back, though Crown Prince has precisely the same
weight, Lord Westmoreland also having Ulphus so nicely
in that be may sack both this and the Flying Handicap,
albeit Panacea appears a very good thing on paper for the
six furlongspiri which Exceller will just like also. Brun-
stone is decidedly best in for the NV elter ; but the short
Hurdle Race I cannot data, pending the Annual, which
may alter the weights to a material extent.
The Grand National Steeplechase is just as perplexing,
and will probably remain so to the last, for it is hard to
see the game playing with Mr. Studd's lot (Shangarry,
Clansman, Despatch, and Sensation), Mr. Carew's Mak-
=and Dermot Asthore, Weaver's Tennyson and
r, and the Alcibiade people's King Arthur and
Columbia ; besides which we have Astrolabe, Cortolvin,
Globule, Little Frank, and Fan going for what appears to
be good money. The only really " fishy " candidates that
were once fancied, beyond Columbia and Dermot, com-
prise tbw Plover, Burney, Silver Star, and Whitehall,
though 'it is impossible to discover that there
is anything the matter with the first favourite the
talent ever made, Surney ; and as the Banker, Lightheart,
Ibex and Sea King, Little Wideawske, and Genievre, long
,as are the prices laid against them, appear to be in the
dangerous division, there is sure to be an exciting race,
that may remain " open " until the front rank land on to
the racecourse for the final run home. Four miles and a
quarter of probably heavy ground, with a regular splitting
pace from end to end, will be nice work for the above-
mentioned (and several others that will turn up among
the starters at the tut moment) to participate in, and the
" prophet " who can foretell the result, when the chapter
of accidents must be inch a heavy one, may thank
his stars. In the first place, Shangarry, Despatch,
and Clansman are each put forth as the " best
of Mr. Studd's," the inference being that because
this gentleman had several good horses (among
them was Salamander) last season, he must have
at least one this. Next, it is understood that Mr.
" Alcibiade " Angell, who won with a five-year-old the
world knew nothing about in 1865, has assisted to try
another unknown youngster, King Arthur, to be " a cer-
tainty if he only keeps on his legs," his Majesty's supe-
riority to Columbia in private being tremendous. But as
a rule keeping on their legs is just what the young ones
cannot do at Liverpool, and I am not even sweet upon the
six-year-old Shakspeare or Dermot Asthore, great as they
are over hurdles. Fan has had some practice over both
hurdles and a country ; and we have seen Clansman get
over a Revere three miles and a half without a blunder;
consequently, it may happen that Mr. Barber's noire
beats all the novices, in which category Tennyson
mast be included. The latter's mate, the Doctor,
went the course on the last anniversary of the Grand Na-
tional, and may outdo him in public if he is the inferior
at home; as may also Columbia get home before King
Arthur. In fact, " with • start," I should include Co-
lumbia in a lot of six to beat all the others backed, Astro-
labe (going right through for a place), Cortolvin, Globule,
Fan, and whatever they back of Mr. Studd's (Shangarry is
by far the best performer)comprisim, the other five. These
are • nice string to tie up the new Kends with, the fifty-
to-one Banker and Little Wideawake comprising two of
the " rank outsiders" that will also, from all accounts,
set Shakspeare a severe task ; and but for • fear that
Globule may prove too small to carry his big weight, he
should unhesitatingly have my preference. But there is
no fault to find with Cortolvin, who could get over any
country, tying or otherwise and I can perceive nothing
better worth standing, now that Columbia looks so shaky,
and there is such uncertainty as to what Mr. Studd means.
The Liverpool Spring Cup, one mile and a half, will
give a better idea of Clarice's qualities than the Not-
tinxham Trial (lid, and she must be pretty good to beat
Edgbaaton at so much—nearly 201 b.—the worst of the
weights, the latter having more to fear, perhaps, froui
Skirmish than the filly. The Steeplechase Handicap, with
the six grand military chases that arc this year to come off
at Aintree, and will greatly strengthen Thursday's and
Fridry's cards, must not be interfered with yet, for all the
i danger there is in Bemires and Be,lale for the first named,
and Tiger and Lincoln in the Gold Cup ; and previous run-
ning may almost settle Friday's Handicap Plate.—l am,
Lc., METEOR.
- -
BETTING IN LONDON.—S•rnlinsr Arita:toes.

There was a lance attendance at the clubs toslay, and business
was very brisk. The transactluis were, however, chietly confined
to the Liverpool Steeplechase, for whirl, a number of horses
were backed, and several eandldater that have hithet to kept in
the hack ground came to the fore. In the face of these new
favourites, however, Shakspeare still retained the premiership,
a to I being freely accepted, and in the end this price was asked
i.e in vain. Van came with something of a rush, and was hailed
at shortening prices until 100 to S was accepted pretty freely.
King Arthur was also barked with wane spirit at 101 to 7,
and Cortolvin was made the 'indium of several hivestnients
at a point lees. These may be regarded as the front rank.
Next came Tennyson, who found friends at 20 to 1, and
toed Coventry's lot Were supported at 1000 to 70.
Dermot Astliors and Columbia both had an unhealthy
appearance. and eventually needed to 100 to 4 offered. Astro-
Isla. and Globule were quiet. alai backed for small stuns only at
21 to I. these odds being quoted at the vb.., The Doctor and
little Frank were each in considerable request, being freely sup- I
ported at 100 to 3. and ultimately tuckers were content to =veld
30 to I about the first-name.i. wane other horses were quoted at
23 to 1, and 40 us I would have secured takers. King Arthur
and Fan were hacked coupled. Lieu being invested on this eon-
tingency at prices ranging from s to rat so 1. These two were also
greatly fancied for places. The hopeless position of Burney
was denoted by the fact of 100 to I 'wing laid against him in the
course of the morning. Very little was done shout the other
events. For the City and Milairlmn lOU toe was taken about
at 11.1 Agnes, and for the Derby 1:1 fifties were accepted about
Hermit. The prices at the chow were as follows:

LIVKRFOOL GRAND NATIONAL.
9to 1 skit Shakespeare t 100 to S Silver Star '‘',
and w) 100 to 3 Thonuatuwn
too to 8 Van A) toff
100 to 8 Kin; Arthur (t 100 to S Hanker At)
mod ol 100 to 3 toiler oft:
100 to 8 Cortolvin t&o., 40 to 1 Little Wides-
-00 to 1 Tennyson t wake A)
SI to 1 Astrolabe t,to 40 to 1 C1!11,099)8vne9

275 to 1 Globule ,t & o (o)
125t0 1 Dermot A.- 5O to 1 The /011 '0)

Vlore (t R 0 I 100 to 1 Borae7
23 to 1 Coltunbla 'otD di to 1 King Arthur &
30 to 1 Doctor tt R tr, I Fon coupled

sUi) W T Little Flank 3, I (t)
too to 3 Whitehall t I 1000 to 70 Lord Coven-
-40 to 1) 1 try's lot (t)