The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-25 00:00:00

TO Mt [DMZ OF THE MIMI&

SIR,—" Floored to a man" was the apology of
moat of the unsuccessful " prophets" when the great
event at Lincoln was over; and, speaking generally, all but
the Vandervelde party received a dreadful knockdown
blow fiom the first important result of /867, that was as
severe as the Beeswing staggerer at the wind up of 1866.
It is no wouder, after their experiences of Christmas
Carol, Sacchananeter, Vigorous, Problem, and others of
their fancies, found w.inting when the pinch came on
Tuesday last, that the public cannot be induced to patronise
the next great handicaps on the list, of which the Liverpool
Steeplechase is too close at hand for its becoming a " good
bettirg race " to be posaible now, especially after the Sala-
manderthat swallowed all the' public money "on the last
anniversary ; still poet backers threw in ten times out of four-
teen at Lincoln, several horses whose good qualities were
well known to them making a successful start for the
season. Old Saccharometer, in the absence of Volunteer,
had it pretty nearly his own way in the Trial, for all his
lOst filb, the form he retains being extraordinary,oonsider-
ing the work he has done on very doubtful legs and had
he been allowed to run for the Handicap there is no tel-
ling where he might have been. However, it was put
about that Fortunatus, his stable-companion, was a stone
beaer "in " of the two, which explains the rush made
upon the latter after the old 'un won albeit he ran
a dreadful fiatcatcher in the race. Ike was not the
only impostor discovered, Mrs. Allan and John
Halifax behind whom there were hundreds of
pounds of undoubtedly "good money," in consequence
of their private trials having been so much better than
their public performiumes—cutting up wretchedly bad ;
and yet there was "nothing very dreadful in any pleading
to a fancy for John Halifax, Mrs. Allan, and Vandervelde,
in the face of the Beadle, Leases, Bismarck, Treasure
Trove, and Vigorous," which I did last Monday ; for one
of the three turned up trumps after alp, and remained at the
remunerative odds of 100 to 3to the last. The credit is
due to me also, I think, for having first told of the pod
trial Vandervelde had won; and the following obser-
vations in my last were so apropos that, cozen-
daring how great a surprise the victory of Count Bat-
thyany's horse was, your readers will probably excuse
my further " quoting myself," for once in a way:—
" It must not be overlooked that, after two of the brothers
Dawson have discovered themselves with such good
things' as the Beadle and Bismarck, a third should have
one at the finish, the lame old Vandervelde, that could
' clean out Mount Palatine and King Charming in a walk,'
and to get on whom certain operators only seem to be
awaiting a good opportunity. With the ground terribly
heavy, • turned-loose old 'un like this must be usetul, if
he can race at all ; so that any serious demonstration in
favour of Vandervelde will give him all the ap-
ce of a second Suburban for Count Batthyany."
Vte=a signal triumph for the green jacket to win the Lin-
colnshire Handicap • second time within live years,
Suburban having done the trick for the Count in '62, four
years after Vandervelde's father, Vandermulin, won ; but
the most extraordinary coincidence in connection with the
race was the three brothers Lawson training the first,
second, and third, John having tutored the winner;
Matthew, the Beadle ; and Joseph, Bismarck ; and it must
have given immense satisfaction to their employers to find
that, although they all train on the same ground, they
should have worked so conscientiously for the good of the
state they each represented. The forward position occu-
pied by the Beadle has made his party very sweet upon
Julius for the Two Thousand ; but Bismarck's good per.
formance could not stem the opposition that est in afresh
against the Rake. Otherwise the proceedings of
the two dim, brilliant as they were, possessed
but • passing interest, and the first two-year-
old ern of the season, the Brocklesby, was only
remarkable for bringing oat a very clever filly
by St. Albano, from Walloon's dam, with the usual num-
ber of backward youngsters, whose possible form when fit
can only be guessed at, though I may plead to • liking for
Suffolk, Roll Call, Limner, Helvellyn, the Skirmisher filly,
Pompier, and Ada, of the lot that were so signally de-
feated by Ninny and Leda. Newmarket wasplaced first,
third, and fourth here, which was nearly as good " form"
as they displayed in the Handicap ; and as they won
seven out of the eleven events they could participate in
during the two days, the trainers at head-quarters must
be worth following for the next few weeks.
Nottingham will attract them in great force again, as
they can go in for ten of the twelve events provided, and
Joseph Dawson could make almost a certainty of the Trial
Stakes, one mile, with Bismarck (3 yrs, fist 41b), the next
best to this colt being old Volunteer (aged, 9st 31b), and
Clarice (3 yrs, fist 111)), for Troublesome has 9st 10Ib, and
Claverbouse, Bst 101 b. In the Nottingham Spring Handi-
cap, one mile and a quarter, the Beadle is certain to run
weU, very few horses being so forward in condition as he
is; nevertheless, to give so much weight to Life Guards-
man, Vigorous, Sweet Anne, Brick, and Cora must trouble
him, if there is no turned-loose " bad'un "in the field,
like Vandervelde, that may best the whole lot ;
and I rather prefer the Newmarket filly, Sweet Anne, sup-
posing Vigorous's time has not yet arrived, the moat trou-
blesome of the remainder being Brick. Again Joseph
Dawson stands boldly out in the Innkeepers' and Stand
Plates, with Sweet Anne or Bismarck almost • " moral" in
the six furlong cut, and Qui Vive in the shorter race—
Mr. Angell having Lady Valentine to battle against him in
the latter, however. After what a bad racer, Royal Tartan,
did among hunters at Lincoln, Greyfoot may be good
enough for the Macaroni Stakes ; but there is nothing of
any public repute in the second day's Hunt Cup. Should
Fortunatus go back at once to hurdle-jumping, he will be
handy for the Grand Annual, if he is not quite so well
adapted to the two miles and a half and eight obstacles as
Surney and Fan ; but no opinion can be formed yet as to
the probable result of the Forest Handicap, and it is easy
to come to the conclusion that Ninny is worth standing fur
the Little John, despite her 51b penalty.
A meeting at West Drayton clashes with Nottingham on
Tuesday and Wednesday, Mr. Bradfield's being followed as
usual by the Derby reunion, extended to two dap, and
dependent for its success on how things turn out on the
borders of Sherwood Forest. Most of the event.' closed
depend on what may previously transpire for their success,
nearly the same horses being engaged in similar races at
each meeting, and I shall confine my " selections " to King
of Hearts, Patience, and nankin for the Steeplechase,
Dermot lathery for the second day's Hurdle Race, and the
Beadle and Bismarck for the Great Midland Handicap.—
I am, METEOR.

BETTING IN LONDON.-SATI7RDAY APITINOON.

The attendance was not so large to-day as It usually la nn
Saturday, and the hominess transactedwas slow In pmgrew and
not very large In amount- One of the restores of t afternoon
was the appearance of a new favourite for the Grand National
In Shakespeare, who In the early part of the day was backed at
as little as 100 to Y. but he afterwards retrogradnl. and finally
100 to el was offered. The two former favourites for this race,
Columbia sad Surety, were anything but firm, the first-named
receding to as much as 25 to 1 offered. Susne hall dozen other
horses were backed for limited amounts, but there was no
malted Immanent in favour of any particular candi-
date. Attempts were made to speculate on the City and
Suburban, but as usual with this race the transactions
were confined to one horse—ln this instance, Brown
Tommy, about whom 40 to 1 was taken in the first Instance, and
afterwards &110 1. For the Two Thousand Plaudit occupied
much the some position as yesterday ; be was not backed fora
shilling, and the offers against him were erwitheious and per-
sistent at one period on to 40 was quoted, but towards the close
theprlee was contracted to 4 to 1. while 9to t would have been
taken. Several offers were made to beck Julius at nto 1, but the
layers limit WO 5, to 1. Twelve "ponies" were taken shoat Her-
mit but beyond this single transaction No further support was
forthcoming. He would, however, have been invested upon
4• with a' start" at 5 to 1, but 9 to 2 was the highest offer. Vauban
was in considerable request,'and several transactions were effected
about him at 100 to 7 and It to 1. Marksman, The General. and
Master Butterfly, were each offered to be laid against,
hut there was no response In either case For the
Derby, the demonstrative het of 4,000 to NO was
laid against D'Estoureel, which had the effect of planing him
indisputably in the post of premier. The Rake was still Infirm,
layers being numerous and hackers few ; in the course of the
morning 10 to 1 was laid two or three time* to small sums but
these odds could no doubt have been readily obtained to large
money had any one been en Inclined. Plaudit was altogether
out of favour at 14 to 1 offered. Dragon wan In fair request,
500 to 35 being accepted twice, and some smaller bets booked on
the same terms. The only other backed was Vauban, about
whom thirty-nit fifties were booked. A double event bet,
Julius and D'Estournel, terminated the day's busies. The
latest quotations are appended :

LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL.
100 to 6 apt ahaksprare 33 to 1 sgst Asti*labe (off,
and off, t4otols.

20 to 1 boctur (t` IS to 1 Gtobule oft'l
20 to 1 Sarney 'of) 40 to 1 Hintt Arthur 'V
25 to 1 The Plover 'tl 40 to 1 DernkotAstbure
._ .

Y 5 to 1 Whitehall
30 to 1 Rtrodomontal 40 to 1 Havelock (off)
50 to 1 Matimore
33 to I Little Troia 1) 30 to 1 Haulm OM
CITY AND SUBURBAN HANDICAP.
100 to 4 apt Wild Awns (or I 33 to t apt Brows Tommy
(t)
-- .—_

TWO TM
4 to 1 sot Plaadft ;oIY. t 9
to 2'
11 to 2 Jullui (off, t
to 1,
12 to 1 IfernOt 't)

/17SAND.
14 to 1 . Marksman "off)
SO to 1 The General 'o)
10 to 1 Waster Butter-
fly (08)
1000 to II Huntsman (01H

ith a start 'off, t S to 1)
My.

--1000 to ao apt Hersh (olt.
tOto 1)
1000 to 30 Master But-
t auerfty
38 to 1 Vban('toff)So3o)
1000 to 10 Newland (MD
Two Thousand and IYretonmel
Derby (t).