The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-10 00:00:00

TO Tilt EDITOR 01'. THE EIPI/.88,

813, The past week has been one of some import-
ance to horsey people, who mast have felt highly gratified
at the waytheir idol west down at Langliserion Thursday.
The dinner there. however, was not the first by very many
that had been got out of the noble animal, and we shall
doubtless hear of several such banquets during the racing
season, as what could be more delicate than for certain
knights of the pencil, after a great race, to invite broken-
hearted backers to a meal off the priniest " dead-un ?"
Many of thethinp first jumped at by Qmpublic for the new
spring races are already in the " slaughterhouse," or on
the road, the early favourite for the Lincolnshire Handi-
cap, King Charming, having caused great anxiety amongst
those interested in his health, whilst his neighbour, Artesian,
made but a short stay with the live stock. The race
sloes not promise so much excitement as usual, my old
friend the Czar to win, and Grey Stocking for a "plan,"
appearing about the only good business. done up to the
present time, though should his charming ktajesty turn
up trump' again (like my long-shot Vandervel also a
wearer of the Typhus green, did last year),
.andde, " that
old Skirmish," or Ruby, or Vigorous, show in anything
like their old form, there will not be much chance for Mr.
liaylor's uncertain jade. Under any circumstances the
meeting will prove a bumper, the complete programme in
last week's Calendar being by far the best ever issued for
Lincoln ; and the three two-year-old races alone will be
worth travelling any number of miles to see, if the sister
to Hermit, Lure, and De Vere, and one or two other
oungsters trained at Newmarket, only put in
aappearance. Lord Jersey has only La Rose engaged in
the Brocklesby, and the sale of his lordships thirty-
nine nine horses (set for the day before the meeting
commences, the 17th), will not affect the strength of the
fields to any material extent, only Grand Duke and
Clarice being in the handicap. The world. curious to
know what will be the fate of certain members of the stud
(to be " sold without the slightest reserve ") ; but there
will be some spirited competition for some of the lots, and
taking them as a whole the string would not be sold at
any alarming sacrifice on their original oast but for the
great loss that must be suffered over Cork Jacket. The
pity is that the establishment should be broken up at all
under such heartrending circumstances, and that the maw
of the vampire should be stuffed with thorough-bred
horses enough to dine many thousands of epicures.
The doings on the legitimate handicaps most imme-
diately following Lincoln have been almost nit, all the
business being en the far-off Chester Cop, for which
liceswiug appears the Simon Pure of the Epsom division,
good money having gone on her and Abergeldie since my
List. Few cases of knock-out have occurred with reference
to thin event yet ; and the cracks for the Two Thousand
and Derby seem to be progressing favourably, one of the
tetterers (Pace) having become very firm since the arrival
of Harvester at M. Dawson's. This does not may much for
the Litter's chance, as it shows the " touts" are not so
istr,cl;en with him as they should be with a dark youngster
that has to overcome the might of such champions as Sir
Joseph Hawley and the Marquis of Hastings can send into
the held ; nevertheless there is sure t obe a " rough-up"
among the Duke of Newcastle's horses when the proper
cos ins, and till then people must not be
too certain as to which is the best, or that
Lady Coventry is not found superior to the whole
lot. Rut there is plenty to be done before such things
can come Omer., it being quite time to think about Derby
trials at the conclusion of the steeplechase season, which
bids fair to prove a busy one, badly ea the second " part"
of it opened at Carmarthen. The home-tredised Fiyfisher
was the only horse of any character on the Prot, and he
sustained two ignominious defeats— th vial not, Ringo.
;:sly affect Daisy's position in the ma set for the Urand
National •iny!.pio•s, than Mr. l'owell's statement that he is
not "on." (ht toe contrary, Daisy has been firm, whilst
l'carl Dieu'', Port Royal, The Plover, Shakespeare, The
Da,. tor, Cl tunings, and Tuseulanum have lately been more
or " 'by," though when the great players all show
their cards he mutt budge a little, and the race will
p• obabiy appear more 0114'11 at the finish than it does
new, :-.0111 • of it, interest is undoubtedly lost through
the (c. girdifiestion of King Arthur, The Niger. and
• , ti.-, I'l...nebulae having a great horse in the la:4-
,111,d, au.) "well-in" he was too. His owner most he
iorr tied because the mistake was not excctly his,
seid is will be recollected that a similar misfortune
I,..N.r.e•ii to bile at Croydon over Astrolabe, who has,
it 1-. ••f• asant ti say, a pretty fair chance brio of lamb-
ing things :he it as good a representative of
intn• r, as he found even among the Duke
of I! molt, ai's let a, • liantilly, for all the weil;bt she
;.•vr.• Avenay Int " spriag cart' fame), Slinkcapeare,
tuff . k of Tinian+ ; awl handicappers never before
treat-.l n, Light will probeudy be thrown
• by the Keret dings at Ilinninghatn,
II irrow, Drrhy, and i titer pieces : sad at the
.t-11,,111et tbret.le; I.e‘.•r.il of the Uraad Ni,Lonal candi-
Oat,, ere fourteen of the thirty
the is roel Weaving out King „billow.
.• ..1 ie., ilyadier, torzet, Shah _apcare, the
.•.t.d. I .• Tally•ao, Aridiloiedea, Moo,. N iaalbury
:1::. l'r a I I •:o• r, 311isbeterr. Ti•e Nun, The Jnuib, and
4't• nilng Woman ; the tat of them will doubtless be
•• • :a-• .1." Yet Cie li. Ii will still be a strong one, the
mr• In , II .• ~:I•ten (I-llb extra), Corkscrew
I .411 • •.. •, I. I iv. ••aivis of Trumps, Snowstorm,
wt.! :•y.rit bring pretty well known to the
or Vie very knowing cards :tinting
tied then i•r,•• its the Inekg, °mi "sure to win it
writ, ;•• L" 1 should prefer atand the little Lamb against
...re • Illy, c tatem• r, unless lard l'ionlett were to
run 'artut.. e., its his steal; and Calliy must
lo• i, 'sty .th In Knave of Trumps or promising Nun.
Howe, .o,ont the beat pm for.n.•r in the race. at the
weig'as, it aiel I shall stand hint, " with a
,:t.•' I! • 111 • ii Ihe ; lavers 1%3e. with Fl/fisher and
Cleugh it in li.r•lly worth u'elk to in-e.bile with
ra.li email fry. - I am, kc., METEOR.

LETTING IN LONDON.

SATU ICDAY.

Not withiatamlin t; Iltiturrous and in :'.uential attendance,
the bettna; tran.actionn of tooloy were not remarkable
either for t dent of amount. For the Lincoln I landicap,
C. ar woli'ot have isani supported at 10 to I, but offers
.t,ttit:totti Shaft :it a point less, mail no actual blow wee
141 I;rry :slinking was in considerable request at 20
to 1, and at the finish Pm to I; WAS taken once or twice
&haat Min, which 11,:ltie 10111 At fond favourite. There was
no disposi.iaa. ha Ittak Kist; Charming at the extended
Mier. of dio to li, and he tbreateued to decline still fur-
ther. Kohy iu strong 'Mee at 20 to 1, while Artesian
;anal Ind_-;'. area: had many frig oda at the Mlle price. 23
to I was oskral for about Wild Moor. and at these odds
'tetanal ins:a...mut+ Were made on Purveyor. Cautbleon
opt and at.. so 7 taken, but she maidenly receded, and
the Lett price laid wax 25 to 1: front the ready man-
ner, heats-or, in which thin was accepted, and
thu sui,ali mat vllfrico of layers, her more is, perhaps,
nut Ina r leapt lens. Naceulation on the Liverpool
Until National opened by °Herb= sno to 40 011 the field,
which was accepts din favour of I'4ll, but as her friends
dial Ittot aettni to ry anxious to Israel. they were tempted
with ':1 to I. at which price a moderote amount of bantams
was done. bar the sense midi were forthcoming to the
close. Vans little was traueliteal in comic:don with the
reimainaler of the flout diticiun. 11.1 t u for the first
time made Cm nlitlium of wei,;hty ilavestataents, she being
backed iu 6,1,111160 of the an &&&&& trig at 3. to l and 30 to 1
to wiu nom.- ;..att./. or s,oUut. Tholoaas;au at about the
same mit— seamed also to be strongly fancied. For the
City and dantbon :100 to 1i and :elm to 20 weft booked
shoot Fro lichist. Olfer aof 105) to 7 ty; aiast Viridis for
the r Corp failed in recut rag takt:s„ and no use felt
disposed to take the 21'3 offered against Abergeldie. Bees-
win's wan t iii ly supported, 5410 to 20 lacing booked three or
four times, tonether watb mire& smaller transactions at
the same rate. lk tting on the Two Thousand sad
the Derby was comparatively quiet, the only features
being the 'masking of i,OOO ;;0 three tames about Blue
Gown for Ca- fir.' mooed race, anal 4,000 to 100 about the
same lums.• fur the latter trent. At the close the prices
were as uodermentiened :