The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-30 00:00:00

4

'parting intditzencti

ST. ALBAN'S STEEPLECHASES. —SATunDAY.
Overcoming the fickleness of the weather, Mr. George
French was enabled to bring his four times postponed St.
Alban's fleeting off on Saturday. Although there was a
considerable fog during the afternoon there was no greater
hindrance to the soccer of the gathering, which passed off
as well as could be expected at this late period of the
racing season. There was a very large attendance, which
no doubt would have been considerably augmented had
the sky been as clear as was anticipated from the break in
the weather a few days before. The takers of the " gate-
money," la , were as fully employed as even the most
sanguine expectations of the enterprising promoters of this
late gathering could have reasonably expected. The
sport on the whole gave great satisfaction, both from
the strength of the fields and the closeness of the
finishes, the five events of the day producing
as much excitement and interest as are evinced in many
more auspicious undertakings. The first event fell to that
much improved but lately uncertain steeplechaser, Helice,
who seemed to have the race in hand all the way, and won
easily from The Guide. The Selling Handicap was deemed
a good thing foe Alice Mary, on whom Knott appeared
very confident, but she fell at the first fence ; and Love-
ina-Mist. who struck everybody in her preliminarycanter
as a flue mover on the fiat as well as a clever fencer, had
not the slightest difficulty in disposing of the rest of
the field, and, indeed, seemed pulling double on
passing the post. The grand item of the day, the
St. Alban's Open Steeplechase, though deprived of
several of its most prominent competitors by the scratch-
ing of Chimney Sweep, Tally-ho, and Northern Light, was
Mill an interesting affair. Lawrence, from his late per-
formances. opened first favourite, but the superior claims
of Hornet soon bad their sway, and be had the call of the
former, finishing first favourite at 5 to 4. Lawrence, taking
advantage of the light weight, after going some distance
took up the running, and on passing the second time
round seemed to have the race in hand, leading up the
hill opposite several lengths in advance of Hornet ; but the
latter catching him, stride by stride passed him after clear-
ing the last jump, and won by a length. The " talent" in
the Maiden Steeplechase went for llfield, as if the race
were all over, hut Panther was brought up cleverly and won
a good race from Penelope, Byfield being third. The Local
OED WWI woo by the favourite, Horace Walpole. Details
of the day's sport are appended.
Trig l HITIINGSTALL tuts, Handicap of 40 BOIL Two
miles.
Mr. Lirohney's Hellos (J. Potter' I
Mr. Eillson's The Guide kitickaby, 2
Mr. If Itiekard'a Sportamen •'Owner 3
The following also ran: Ace of Trumps, Gorsehawk, Merry
Horn, Bodleian., and Bauymede.
Betting: 3to 1 each agst Helice and Ace of Trumps,
and 4to 1 each apt Sportsman and The Guide. Gorse-
hawk, The Guide, and Ganymede formed the leading
division into the straight, where Ganymede dropped back
a little, and Gorsehawk pared the stand with a clear lead '
of The Guide and Bedlamite, Sportsman, Ace of Trumps,
Helier, Ganymede, and Merry Horn following in the order
named, separated at slight intervals. When fairly in the
turnip field, Ganymede rushed to the front, and led into
the ploughed land attended by Sportsman, the most pro-
eminent of the others being Ace of Trumps, The Garde, I,
and Helice, Merry Horn still being in the rear. The last
obstacle but one was cleared by The Guide, Helice, and
Sportsman almost abreast of each other. Before reaching
the last fence, however, Sporteman was in difficulties, and
the issue was confined to Relic* and The Guide, the former
of whom had • slight advantage at the fence, and won easily 11
by a length. Sportsman was a bad third, Ace of Trumps ij
pulled up fourth, Merry Horn fifth, Ganymede sixth, II
Gorsehawk seventh, and Bedlamite last.
THE SELLING HANDICAP PLATE of 30 @OM ; winner to 8
be sold for 40 soya. Two miles.
Mr. Jamie's Love-In.a.litet r armee 1
Mr. Coes Penelope (Mr. F. G. Hobson; 2 Mr. Odkes's air Stephen (Kennedy) S 6
Beverley and Alice Mary also ran
Betting : 6to 4 agst Alice Mary, 4to 1 each apt Bever- 1,
ley and Penelope, and 10 to 1 agst Love-in-a-Mist. Bever li
-
ley made the running followed by Alice Mary to the drop
fence, two before the stand, when she fell, anddisposing of
Knott went on riderless. Before clearing the next tones
Beverley resigned the lead to Sir Stephen, who led oast
the Mani, having Beverley and Love-in-a-Mist in close
attendance, Penelope bringing up the rear. Going up the fl
ploughed land Penelope ran up to Love-in-a-Mist, and the
pair went on in pursuit of Sir Stephen, whom they caught
up half a mile from home. the trio clearing the drop fence
almost abreast of each other. Sir Stephen retired before
clearing the next fens, and Love-In-a-Mist, taking up the
running after landing the jump, won easily by a length.
Sir Stephen was a bad third, and Beverley was last. The
winner was sold to Mr. J. Percival for 50 guineas.
THE ST. ALBAN'S 0111 H STEEPLECHASE of 15 soya. each,
10 ft, and 3 only if declared, with 100 added winners
extra. About three miles and a half. (42 subs, 17 of
whom pay 3 sovs. each.)
Mr. Lynton's Hornet (Griffiths' 1
Sir W. Call's Lawrence (Mr. A. Yates, 2
Arieocott and mahopton also ran.
Betting: 5 to 4 apt Hornet 2 to 1 apt Lawrence,
and (1 to 1 agst Arlescott. The latter cut out the work
with the favourite at his quarters,Lawrenoe and Bishopton
following at short intervals. In this order they passed the
stand and ran until descending the hill in the turnip-field,
when Hornet got level with Arlescott, and on reaching the
plough, Lawrence, on the outside, joined the pair, the three
running head and bead to the next fence, immediately
atter clearing which Bishopton, improving the pace, took
up the running, Ariesoott following Mr. Hobson's horse,
the other two being slightly in the rear, in *km company.
Descending the hill towards the drop jump, Lawrence
quitted Hornet, and paring Arlescott and Bishopton,
assumed the command, Hornet in a few strides also head-
ing the pair, and at the jump Arlescott dropped into the
rear. Lawrence showed the way postilthe stand the second
time, Hornet being fully four lengths in advance of Bishop-
ton, Arlescott being some distance in the rear. The
latter, however, made up a lot of his lost ground in the
turnip field, and headed Diabopton before reaching the
fence into the ploughed land. He ran wide however at
the next obstacle, and Mr. Ellison finding further penis-
mance useless pulled up • at the time Lawrence had a
lead of fully twenty lengths of Hornet, Bird:lepton being
more than twice that distance in rear of the latter. Making
the descent of the hill in the field succeeding the plough
the favourite rapidly decreased the distance between Law-
rence and himself, so that at the drop fence they were
almost on level terms, and cleared the last obstacle almost
abreast of each other. They were both in difficulties
within the straight, but Hornet holding out the longest
won after a good race by a length. Bishopton, who was
pulled ep half-a-mile from home, did not pass the
.post.
THE MAMIE STEEPLICRASZ of 30 mom for maidens at

the time of entry; lint 71b each, winner, extra ; winner
to be sold for 50 nom About two miles.
Mr. Wodetiouse's Panther (Mr. F. Cl. Hobson) 1
Mr. Con's Penelope
Mr. Duerow's Byfieldl . (J. Knott) 3
Miss Franklin also ran.

Betting : 6 to 4 apt Byfield, 5 to S apt Panther, 4 to 1
apt Penelope, and 5 to 1 apt Miss Franklin. The latter
was disposed of by a refusal at the first fence, which, bow-
ever, she cleared at the second attempt, but subsequent
refusals throwing her a long way into the rear she was
pulled up in the ploughed land. Penelope made running
till within a hundred yards of home, when she was chal-
lenged by Panther, who won &wily by a length ; Bytield
held second place until reaching the ploughed land,
where be gave way to Panther, and 6niahed a bad third.
The winner was bought in for 51 guineas.
THE Loci CUP ; for horses the property of persons re-
siding within 40 miles of St. Albans ; list each ; penalties
and allowances. Once round ; shoat a mile and • half.
Mr. W. H. Cooper's Horace Walpole (A. Preach,' 'I
Mr. Mr. Clark's Claris&
Mr. Ire la's Mlistiry (H. Mates;