The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-01 00:00:00

TO TIM EDITOR Or !NZ II RiaL

Bra,—The racing season commences in earnest
on Tuesday next, with a meeting that has few equals in
the Calendar, the committee wisely contenting themselves
with occupying two days, although having 8551. public
money at their command, so that there is no chance of •
failure, as the late meeting at Warwick turned out, the
only contests of the slightest general interest during the
three days there being for the Trio] and Two-Year-old Stakes.
In the propamme before me there are the Northampton-
shire and Whittlebury Stakes, with the Queen's Plate and
Trial (not yet closed) on the lint day, and the
Earl Spencer's Plate, St. Lis Handicap, and Althorp
Park Stakes, on the second, which are certain to keep
up the excitement from beginning to end, if the
Mlle remaining snots do not. In the Northamptonshire
Stakes (the first of the "spring handicaps ") there are 43
annals mrep=, representing some 30 different parties, the
bang A. Taylor's, at Pybeld, with Lord
='s Plumper, 4 yrs, 7st 71b ; Sister to St. Albans,
3 yrs, fist 131 b; and the colt Out of Intimidation, 3 ps,
fist 131 b ; Mr. Parses Rattlebotte, 4 yra, Bst ; and Mr.
Clerk's Seen, 5 yrs, 7et 91b. Dories the last few days the
Itrelasseed gentleman's trio have all played • part in the
market, while the othen are booked certain absentee. ; but
heat the state of the market it looks probable the stable
very good, as the support emended to
power
St. Albans, and more recently to Plumper, we. of
a very lukewarm character. There is no mystery as re-
=any .other " division," although lady Trespass, An-
King of Diamonds, Merrimac, Kies of Kent, and
Dane form the whole of the lot besides Lord
Arlasbury's that are at all firm in the niarketrthe Rap and
Horror having suddenly become very " fishy," and it le said
the latter's owner cannot get his money on. The " out▪ " expected to start comprise Defender, Bevis, Moor-
hen, Donner nod Slits, Industrious (or Nativity), Ambush,
Oliver, Sycophant (or Wombat), Billiton, Jacint Black
Sultan, Bearish, and Robinson Cruaoe ; but out o ha,
f than
several will be missing at the finish, and presuming that A.
Taylor's stable will not be represented by more than •
couple, I cannot see • probability of last year's field (fifteen)
being exceeded by more than two or three, at the outside.
Of those sot backed, Robinson Crusoe and Industrious are all
that would have a chance, even with the money on, nicest).-
fender can show some of hisoldqualrtiee which he appeared to
have lost at Lincoln and elsewhere this season. ladyTY
is meeting him in receipt of 7lb for the year sod mut,=
gives her but 41b the worst of the weights with the old
hone, and onsideriog how well she ran with 7st 12111 in last
year's Cessrewitch, being about " fourth best" in the race
when giving 31b to lieu Webster, her chance is anything but
out. Put Ben Webster in here at 31b less than her ladyship
(list 21b), when he would be quite equal to Horror and Ava-
lanche,from their running in the Royal Stand Plate at As-
cot last June ; consequently, Lady Traipses ought to brat
this last-mentioned pour, if she is at all fit to run, prat as
is the improvement Mr. Parr has made in AraLmka, who
will prove her running at Warwick to have been anything
but correct. The Kiog of Diemen, we never saw travel •
distance last y i
ear, except in the St. Leger ; there, however,
he did out disgrace himself, and t will be singular if a de-
scendant of King Tom is not capable of staying the distance
(two miles). The horse, looking at the company, is most
favourably weighted, having only the worst of it with two
that have been backed, against which he retains equal to
131 b hoes lady Trespass, 71b from Avalanche, 91b from
I Honor, and llb from Plumper, while none of the
threeiewolds receive more than they are entitled to (261 b)
for the year. He certainly has to concede 51b to Mennen,
and m good as 111 b to Dana, but neither of these has run
la sash good cannon, and his Majesty's numerous adios-
Me are perfectly justified in their coufidenee, as they ma
make we be will do his best for them. Merrimac was
never half-trained when he started last year, and four of
his ire defeat. were in the best of company, while on the
fifth °comics (at Reading) he was running up to his hocks
in mad ; omanneotly, he could never be set down as
• tad bone, and from the tackle he went through
the mill with last week, we are bound to consider
him
(mireo than moderate, several stables that have horses
of on in the ram " gong " for this gentleman in
preferenne. Dane oel started twice last season having
WOR the Wanrialishire p so Wall 11118iy that she be-
came a peat favourite for the City and Suburban and
Metropolitan Handieaps ; however, she met with an accident
in the first of these races that kept her at home for the
rest of the year, and she was almost forgotten, until a
heavy commons was introduced into the market on Satur-
day last to back her for this stake. Like Merrimac, an has
been tried under the animism of the mat dangerous
" talent," and while meet* eyerytimg that opposes her
with the beet of racing vinOts, they can scarcely make •
mistake. King of Kent hat year ran anything but the
gist-clam horse our handicappers have made him out, and
OM little incident concerning his sale must have opened
their eyes, as I believe he would never have changed
hands at any price but for an accident. His new
owner has • tremendous stake on for the Derby,
while there is some good money entrusted to him for next
Tuesday's tourney ; and in my opinion he will figure more
respectably than many think possible with his crusher of 7st,
for the calibre of nose of his opponent can be set down as A 1.
=inn confidence is not so great se to suppose him
of beating Dane and Merrimac, who appear the
two most dangerous animals in the race ; and fading these,
the King of Diamonds will have a chance of carrying the
prim to Newmarket. The Whittled:Fury Stakes, for two and
three year olds, six furlongs, is sure to flad thejuvenila
nearer the mark than they were last year, as among the
" dark " lot Mr. Merry and Sir J. Hawliy's nomination
are certain to make • noise in the world some day,
the former pollen= having Express sod Sider to
Cecilia, while the latter has Duke Rollo. Express
and Duke Rollo were sang the most pro-
• esadd under the hammer last sewn ;_and
P is see
that struck me very much, so that if the
run him in preference to Ethel, your readers must
expect • first-rate performance. The three•year-olds ea-
rned are einem ia number, Ran enaley's weight being
Bst 1111 s, while pdhClirer. Nuthada, sad Dolton have
M KS sash ; , Sot 811, ; Res Ran and Farris,
list 5111 i ash orenter. lions, Merton, learns, Strike,
and!aightahridge, list 31b each ; sled Medusa
mid Shepherdess eaeb. lady Clifdes performed so WU-
, lonstly at Werwisk that, ia the Aimee of Quisheilver, I
ma only esneiller the tight weights have a elan. of

heading such two-year-olds as &prase, Peignoir and
Duke Rollo ; the best of that division being Forester,
unless Lord Stamford resolves to pull out Imans.
Forester has been tacked to win some money for
tLe Derttri and while only giving the two-yr-olds 231 b, he is
suedes good-looking rme to place my greatest con&
deuce ardham's mount. The other events in the fast
day's list are not of a character to employ my pen, only two
of them being complete, and one is • • selling ^ nice ; but I
can deal with nearly all the items set for Wednesday, es
they promise very interesting contests. The Racing &ekes,
for three-yr-olds, one mile, is surely a "gift " for a Derby
favourite like Kildooan, who receives Ilb from Benham
Lee ; and Black Diemood can scarcely ices the Cup Stakes,
two miles, with Booms& about the bud of his oppeseute,
However, the prize is only worth 150 son., sod it weld
be more judicious to reserve the Diamond for the St. 13s
Handicap, one mile and a quarter, which fa of four times the
value, while hie weight (64 21b) is very lenient, be having to
concede only the bib for sex to (Nips, and 61b to Sawcutter,
Woe being his only dangerous 3-yr-old opponents. My
opinion is that neither will require much beating front ma
a good horse ; and the Northamptoushire Stakes might die-
pees of two or three others that look well now, Lady Tres-
pass, 4 yrs, fist 311; Merrimac, 4 yrs, 7st (only 7st 51b
should he win on Tuesday) ; and Oliver, 4 yrs, Set 111 b,
being all engaged. The best of this trio (probably Merri-
mac), with Dreadnought, 4 its, fist 10th, form all that Black
Diamond's party will have came to far; but it must not
be forgotten they hays another Tay good string to their
bow is The Speaker, 5 yrs, let Slb, and between the
two they ought to carry away the prise. The Karl
Spencer's Plate, five &deep, is not such a fine-
ceedul affair as it has been of late years, and
the field will scarcely be so strong as lad
year. The private reputation of Spanish Fly, 3 yrs, fist,
will frighten many from the post, and they mutt take 2 or
3 to 1 about her before the start, for the stable think it a
certainty, and that she is equal to Tyrant at even weights.
The only three-yeer-old likely to bowl her over is Bluestone,
Set 21b, for Polyolbion, tist 41b, is a lade, and Touch-me.
Not can hardly give a good horse 12114 while Parasite, fist
1211, is not barked en if wanted, or he would not be de-
spited by me over a short course at any weight. The old
horses carrying upwards of Set can have no chance with
Lunellus,4 yes, Bst ; Fravolla,4 yes, 764 1311; yrs,
7st 91b ; Spiceboz, 4 yes, 7st gib; and Seclusion, 4 yrs,
7st 21b, in the field, and the champions of these are
Lanoline and Fravola or Seclusion, the two last-
mentioned being in one interest, but I em not con-
fident in their ability to give Spanish Ply and
Bluestone the weight, or even Permute, If they back
the latter. The Aithorpe Park Stake, for 2.yr-olds, halts-
mile, will be influenced by the running .for the Whittle.
bury, as now of the public performers (Fetrelda, Queen of
Spam, Summer (lane, Lass o' Gowns, and Over the See)
may show, while of the remaining Ave-and-twenty Sister to
Man-at-Arms, Tutor, Dubs Re/le, and Peignoir are in the
event above-seined. Your readers are already in posses-
sion of my opinion of the two last teentioned ; but they
may safer defeat on Tuesday, when Boss and Lag of
Hearts shall have my confidence. —I am, be.,

METEOR.

The start for the legitimate racing season will be
fairly made this week. The seven meetinp which
have been recently celebrated were unimportant ;
they only excited the transient interned of a few
restless speculators, and the iucidents which marked
them were neither of an enduring mature, wr eel.
culated to affect the betting in any ef the peat swag
races. This week, however, the shadow of man seeing
events will be discerned, and NartLarspim
will take place the Bret really large ptherlag of all seats
and conditions of sporting men. A new seam wile\
mimes extraordinary prosperity will be fitly by
the meeting which will be celebrated under the menegr
ment of the Merl. ManhalL The programme prints
such an abundance and variety of itill2ll that the policy of
extending the meeting to three clays will doubtless be spin
brought under discussion with increased semesters. At
any rate three days' sport has been provided in North-
amptonshire, for on Thursday the Grand National Hunt
Steeplechasee, which have a growing popularity, will take
place at Market Harborough, sod they poems andideet
attraction to induce a large majority of the race visitors to
prolong their sojourn in the county. In addition to the
Northampton " fixture" there will be meetings at Catterick
Bridge, Croxton Park, and the Hoe, and "little goes" at
Henley in Arden, Newcastle, Tadcaster, Use Isle of Wight,
and Abergavenny, so that ratting men of whatever county
will not lack employment.
Eight races will be decided each day at Northampton, and
they will bring out homes that are merely known to fame
by rumour, but whose skied is anxiously anticipated, and
ethos whose re-appearance is awaited with much interest
and curiosity on account of the promise which their per
formanoes last year afforded of their achieving considerable
turf celebrity. Expectation on these imb}eets is not likely
to be disappointed, for amongst the safmal entered are
many that have important engagements in the peat three-
yearold and handicap events of the season, and which have
played principal parte in the "doings at the Corder. Of
the items in to-morrow's list three are yet unclosed, but
they are likely to obtain a satisfactory number
of entries. The weights for her Majesty's Plate
this year will be in accordance with the new and judicious
leak of weights, ordered by the Master of the Horse, who
is by the way one of the stewards of the meeting. The
mod importantitem on the card will be the Northampton-
shire Btalces, which out of 126 subecribers only commanded
47 acceptances. Still the disproportion between the " ayes"
and the " noes" cannot be attributed to any bleeder-
Mg on the part of the Haodicap per, who appears
te have executed his task with hie usual impar-
tiality and discrimination. This event is the des►
of the series of those important spring the
which are not only largely speculated upon by the
fraternity, but which from the greet lettersets
they involve, attract the attention of all persons who hero
any regard for turf puma/4 " Books " of every dimension
have law bees opined upon it, and if the betting hem net
been Irish it bag bees characterised by remarkable *masa-
tines, whisk have served to quicken the lutenist of the
Avalanche, who had been held in high favour prior
eltia,relppranwee at Ellarewebtuy, hie bees driven teem
her }comment position in the betting. and Yeerinsee has
been advanced within the last day or two to the foremost
place in the list of quotations ; Horror sad The lap, who
wen seat in demand, have receded before tin
tendency of Damao and Kin of Kent. Be easettisdree
lettleg, however, th
will isat doebelem the preseediUsas tae
Me market brow eredwis draw et •
ehaweder. It he Miner' are lower& el Nang amps&

liras will go to tee pal..adilboy will So' ideated from the
wag:
HORSE
Lady Toupee.—
Horror
Avabuiohe
Bovii
The sm•
Ting or Dlaniondi
Scant
Moorhen
Merrimac
Industrious
Ambush
Simple Simon
King of kent
Dana°
Sycophant
Wombat
&Siam

Sister to Bt. Albaos
Benbow
Oliver
Nativity
Intimidation

TILINIML.
J. Oaborea.
, Wadlow.
J. Boutt.
Hayboe.
Hiroo.
Maomag.
Goiter.
Zachary.
Zachary.
Godthug.
Weaver,
J. Dawn°.
A. Hatable.
A. Taylor.
J. Scott.
Berm.
Grater.
A. Taylor.

The Whittlebury Stakes. with it. 47 subseribers, is likely
to bring out a large field, end if it be not so convenient aa
" instrument of gamine' as the handicap, it will be marked
withmore prospeetiveimporteace. Amoopttheauimalsthat
have incurred extra weight are Rut Stanley CO), Lady
Clifden (51b), Nutbush (51b), Doefoot 11511:4:wirilst the fol-
lowing ere allowed right :—Hilly Dwindle (811, paid;
learns (51b), Knightabridz (51b), lyanlintf (51b), gluertou
(51b), 'maw. (51b), Strike . lb), Forester (51b), Madura (51b),
Redpole (511) mad, and Shepherdess (51b).

The Stead Platy and th.Nene Handicap (for which the
acceptances are to be declared to-night) are ths must it,.
portant items in the first day's llet.
On the Wednesday will be the Rail Spencer's Plate, for
which 61 horses were admirably handicapped, and of which
only 29 were struck out. The field wall doubtless be as
numerically strong as ever, fur the Spencer's Plate is as
popular bore an the (ty and Suburbia at Epsom, the Royal
Hunt Cup at Ascot, or the Steward'v Plate at Goodwood.
According to Belle 10(fe, the thirty.two remaining " in* re-
present no fewer than twesty-one stables, those baying two
or mere repeaseatatives being Wadlow (3). Closter.
Wade* Hughes and Alex. Taylor (3 each), Knight and
W. Day.

- -
The Althorp Park Make, will not moult one feather of its
popularity, and may bring out a youngster, of whose merit
the racing public wot not of.
The meeting will be under the stewardship of the Mar-
quis of Allealitu7, Sir M. Des Vacua, cud the Hon. F. W.
Villiers.

The officials wM be Mr. Mark, judge ; Mr. T. Marshall,
ion.' as starter ; Mr. J. Maaneriag, clerk of the scales ; and
Mr. Marshall, see., clerk of the coulee.

The eteepleclume meeting at Market Harbomugh is likely
to be more suoreseful than the similar venture in the naigli-
bourhood of Northampton last year ; the mune' of the
stewards alone are a tower of strength.
At Crouton Park and the 800 two meetings of more than
usual interest will take place, but the gathering next in im-
portistoe to that at Northampton is at Catterick Bridge.

PROGRAMME OF NORTHAMPTON AND
PYTCHLY HUNT RACES.
To•fifostaow.
Tan TRIAL NTARts of 10 son. each, with 50 added ;
3-yr-olds, Tat ; four, Set 91b ; five, 94 lib ; six and aged,
94 31b. One mile. To close this evening.
Tai GREAT NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HANDICAP of 25
each, 15 ft, and sif declared • ' with 100 added; the
to resolve 25 son. Wieners extra. Two toile'. (125 sate.
18 of whom pay 5 ems. each.)
gin et lb Age at lb
Defender
Dultibella
Schism
Moorcock
Lady Dawn 4 8 4 fby Meg Tem—
Horror a 8 4 Molly
Battledore, 4 3 0 m 3 •
Avalanche 4 713 Rupture 3 4
Simple Slane
Berle
Pitman tin. tibei) .. 4 7 1 Black Sultan 8 3
The Rap a 7 Belletsle ' 3 a
King of Diamonds
Scent
Mann•Aram 4 7 SW to St. Albans .... 3 13
Moorhen a 7 Promotion 8 13
Plumper 4 7 Pc by WWI Dora—
Booboo 6 7 Intimidation ll 13
Bridegroom • 7 Croagh Patrick 3 11
Donner and Blitz .. 4 7 ltelenson Crosse II 11
Merrimac
Industrious
Ambush 6 7 =.44Dwindles 3 paid
Doefoot
Heat
7
Zing of
Tint STAND PLATE (Handicap) of 50 Man., for three-yr-
olds and upwards ; winners extra. One mile.
Al• lit Age 11 18
Cheesecake 4 1! Sweetbread
Lustre 6 :
Isthmian
3 13
Royal Sovereign .... 6 II la
Flitch
Ancient Briton 6 1 Jingling Johnny .... 8 10
Mies Eleanor 6 13 Necromancer a 10
Arabians .t 6 12 Joule Brown $ 9
Zdmuud Kean
The Nun 4 10 Luther 3 6
Qwellyan 4 9 Iby Rospodar—liope 3 4
The Don 4 6 f byTodmor—Taarina 3 4
Illselpin
Billy Dwindles 3 3 Snapshot 3 a
Actress
Han IfAsseres PLATS of 100 (blame ; 3yr-olds. 74 9th;
I four, 946 71b; .five. 10et ; six and aged, 104 121 b. Two
mike. To ekes this evening.
Neal FM HANDICAP of 5 son. each, with 35
added,l for all ages. Spencer Plate Conine.—Aceeptancee to
be declared this evening.
Age s lb 1 Age a 11‘
Mae Julia • 101 Ringbone
Lord 4 the Manor .. 6 131 Pietas a a
Neophyte
Cbsesseake
Brandy Ball
nem 6 Maid of Honour .... 3 11
Onkel 4 Sunflower
ltsvela
Leonia 6 Nunnery 3l 19
JuSet
little Oared • Prince imperial .... a le
Roily 4 Volunteer •
• le
li Enfield 6
Hartley Whitney .. 4 Seders
box 4 Count Horn
Us 8 retzu
1. a
Penalty 6 Wainer
New
Woman
6 13 BenasAlazie... ..... a
Mistake
Con/orlon
Chananthe 6 1 Deaths• 3
Serlitslon
lintbush a X
Vixen
Von Stroom
Infanta
Rattlesnake
14asseren1 4 The Yawn a
White Wan a Acre 8
The in. 4 Belerino
Itreafte
Tractiom
Omen Bee 4 Revolt 2
THE PTTCHIJIT MILLE4O) STAINS of 5 sore. each, with
40 added. The New Spencer Course (5 furlongs straight).
To clan this evening.
A Swank Pr. 451 of 30 son., added to a handicap of 5
eon. each. The winner to be sold for 40 son., do. Win-
ners "atm. Spencer Bate Course.
Ass at lb Age st lb
. 4 8 7 The Quaker
. 4 8 0 Joy
. 4 7 13 Sloth
. 5 7 7 Sofiya 8 411
. 6 7 6 fby Rcepoder—Mope 3 610
IT arm= of 15 son. each, IS ft, with 100
et Sib; three, 84 81b ; Miss and gel.
r • winner extra, dc. About threolvor.
ink)
Age
a bclan taPlaa
•n

Contturlon

White Wave
The Nun
Volunteer
Infield

Tun Warrnmun
added; trybeida,
dinp allowed Me
tan of a mak. (47'

valid=
Modes
Mates= latit• I
Icarus
Bister to Mais.ate

das
Merton
Mania
Deeded 3 a
Ivanbcd a
Parade
Issue • - a
Shepherd's"
Master Fenton
Keane
Cain .
Twinkle
Strike
Forester
Peignoir
Billy Dwindles
(paid)
Bedpole (paid)

Iralaida;rldge—
by Orlando
Barcelona
Prince of Wales I
Ras Bleu
Data Rollo
T.tor
Abel 2
Brsech.loader
°arrow/us

Arm.t
relisikrirs
lianrklo
b_y Automat
Hibernia
c by Wag Misfire-
Ilan Croke

turn — 2
f by Kingston
11sidnf the Morn 2
Zelda

Niter to Cates 2
IN4ero
Wober 2
zloowie
Fain

RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE WEEK.
LONDON AND NORTH M/STERN RAILWAT.
A special train will leave Ruston Station on Tuesday and
Wednesday at 9.15 a.m., returning from Northampton on
the evening of each day by special train only at 6.45 p.m.
Return tickets to Northampton from London issued on
Monday and intervening days will be available to return up
to and =lading Thursday.
Mauer HARDOROUOEL—First and second dam day
tickets trued from King's-cross and Hitchin for Market
on Wednesday and Thursday will be available
fitra=h ng by any train np to and including Friday. 00
mar
Thursday • sprialid train willleave King's for ket
Barhurnuth at 8.40 a.m., returning at 7.30 p.m.
Tin Roo R•ces.--On Saturday first and second e
I day Umtata from Kines-arees for Welwyn and Wheat.