The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-05 00:00:00

Ibpsrting futeUtgenct.
LIVERPOOL SPRING MEETING.

WZDNESDAY.

The long looked for erearoonntry Derby, the Liverpool
Grand National Steeplechase, is now • matter of history,
and the manta of Meson. Topham' great handicap have
been decided upon in the presence of an immense number
of spectators. On Tuesday evening and yesterday morning
the town became seen more thronged with turtles than
on the morning of the opening day, Scotch and Irish
representatives having arrived to witnees the big event ;
Tipaterepolia," too, sending heavily laden trains, and
Liverpudlians swelling the throng on Aintree to an unusual
degree. The weather was more aneeable and sumenerlike,
although in the morning rain thi ~atened to mar the moose
of the proceedils, but fortunately only a slight April-
like shower fell, oat enough to lay the dust along the road.
Every conceivab description of vehicle was pressed into
the service to make the journey to the course and from
,about 11 in the morning till just before the decision of the
,Grand National there was one continuous stream of
vantages lining the route. Before proceeding, however, to
the business of the day it may not be uninteresting to give
• resume of the market movements in connection with the
grateroarcoun try event. The wagering has been remarkable
for the extreme dimness of the favourites, and the great
test of the excellence of the handicap is that only a day or
so ago three of the competitors were quoted at precisely
the same odds in the price current. Chimney Sweep, after
his performances at Warwick and Croydon, was elected to
one of the posts of honour, many believing that the son of
Ethelbert and Smut would he equal to the Aintree course,
despite the peat impost of 12 stone. The support awarded
to l'ennyson, his stable companion, of course had the effect
of uniting the operations on the " Sweep," and at one
pried last week the former actually passed the latter in
the quotations. When the pen was pot through the
" Laureat's " name, however' a further anxiety was evinced
to get on the " Sweeps who whospeedily advanced in the quo-
tations. Weever declared that not even excepting Emblem
and Emblematic—the two sisters who won the Grand Na.
tonal two years in succession for Lord Coventry—had be
ever trained • better horse, the animal having been able
to "do " all that was asked of him at home. The fast
that Chimney Sweep would have the services of Jem
Adana gave backers renew( d confidence, and on Tuesday
night at the Washington the horse reached the top of the
list, his quoted price being 100 to 15. Moose, since the
" feeler " he bad in the Erdiogton Plate, at Birmingham,
and having acquitted himself satisfactorily with Pearl
Diver, met with good support, gradually coming into
stronger favouritism. The performance of the Diver in the
Annual Hurdle Race on Tuesday had the effect of giving
Weeps another fillip in the returns, but there were many
shrewd judges who backed Mr. Brayley's pair coupled,
accepting 6to 1 about them. Their owner, Mr. Brayley,
was very confident, and openly stated that, bar accidents,
Mace' would win. Lord Poulett's representative was the
Irish bred Lamb, given out to be the same horse as Nu
on the flat, and capable of defeating Benszet easily, con-
ceding to the scion of the Flying Dutchman weight 1101.0nI
country. A curious prejudice has throughout existed
against The Lamb, and so recently as Monday Captain
Kimbell laid 800 to 100 against him, believing that the
'horse was on too small a scale to win " a Liverpool."
Lord Poulett's friends, however,were exceedingly sanguine,
and the veteran Ben Land wetted that the " cerise and
blue" would prove invincible on the day. Fan, the
second to Cortolvin last year, has occupied a dubious
position, having Leen "on rah" fur the past three weeks.
The Duke of Hamilton was anxious to conclude &purchase,
but tho negotiation fell though. Many anticipated that
the mystery in which she was shrouded would, as
An the last anniversary, be cleared up at the
eleventh hour, and so it was, the mare starting
at a comparatively short price. Daisy—the hope of the
principality—was at one time at the head of the poll, but
subsequently Mr. Powell's gelding was pared by several
elff the others iu the quotations. Pearl Diver advanced to
1440 1 after his success in the Hurdle Rate, and at the
Washington on Tuesday night Mr. Stephenson expressed
willingness to either lay or take 1,400 to 100, but
gleiblag came of it. Turculanum, who at the Grand
Ithtional Hunt meeting at Bedford detested Cortolvin
and Bislopton, has been in steady demand and entrusted
with a lot of money. The Nun pleased everybody with
her easy victories at Birmingham and Derby, and though
else incurred • 101 b penalty—raising her weight to
list alb—slaci has had plenty of supporters, sad on
Tuesday night was level with Tusculanum in the
betting returns. Ahsibiade, who got successfully over the
course in 1865, has enjoyed a fair share of monetary sup-
port. Gana had the confidence of his owner, the Duke of
Hamilton, his grace taking 1,000 to 30 twice about him on
Monday. Tho Id-me accepted in the course of the same even-
ing was 25 to which odds were also laid against Captain
Croestree. The latter animal has been backed, perhspc,
more than any other for a place, his owner taking 6 to 1
about him running in the find three. The retirement of
Reporter caused Thalassius to advance • trifle, but 30 to 1
was always easily obtainable about Lord Stamford's repre-
sentative. Having thus gone briefly through the market
operations, we will proceed to the incidents which marked
the race. The attendance was tumrecedentedly large, every
available point within the enclosure and on the
course being crowded. As soon as there was • meeting
in the ring, speculation on the big event commenced.
The races preceding the Grnud National evoked but little
excitement, and betting en the " National" continued
till the numbers were exhibited. When the telegraph.
board was hoisted it displayed twenty-one runners, the
most conspicuous absentee being Traculannm, who was
snatched at ten minutes past two, the horse having gone
amiss. The only other scratching thday was Philosopher,
through whose name the pen was put at a quarter-past
twelve. Mr. Barber, as was anticipated, started • couple,
declaring to win with Helen, whowse ridden by Mr. A. Good-
man , Thorpe leering Fan. Mr. Goodman was enabled tondo
foe Mr. Barber owing to Tusculanum being scratched. Mr.
Brayley started his pair, Moose and Pearl Diver, declaring
Is win with lieu former. Chimney Sweep maintained hi
position at the head of the quotations to the finish, leaving
off at 7to 1. Moose and Fan were in equal demand at 8
to I, Tho Lamb being backed at 9to 1, which odds were
booked In the course of the forenoon to hundreds of
wends. Pearl Diver passed the Welsh representative, '
sad was backed at 10 to 1, • point mom being taken about
Daisy, whom Mr. Thomas was retained to ride, upon Mr.
Baehr. horses being withdrawn. The betting about the
others will be found below with a description of the race.
The contest was marred by one fatal cannily only.
Chimney Sweep, whilst crossing the road before a
quarter of a mile Lad been accomplished, stepped
en a boulder stone and broke his leg, hie owner,
Lord Coventry, onlering his immediate destruction. Fan
refused the third fence, Thorpe finding it utterly im-
possible to get her over. The Lamb, who had always lain
prominently in the front, took up the running • mile from
Lome, and until the last fight of hurdles ran a good race
with Pearl Diver, but always having the best of the
struggle, won in the end easily. The cheering which
greeted the winner on returning to the enclosure was some-
thing immense, and the horse and Mr. Edwards were seas.
rounded, a large crowd following the animal sheet the
ring. Lord Poulett, who is one of the stewards of the
amain, was oonpatulated on all sides on his 83006113,
and the popular Hampshire horseman, Mr. Edwards, who,
It may be remembered, sustained a venous accident at
Croydon in Lord Poulett's colours, came in for more than
the usual amount of praise which the rider of the
winner invariably receives. Pearl Diver, although
not the selected of the stable, beat Moose, and •
amine remark applies to Helen, who defeated Fan.
Guns had the command of the field until after clearing
the first fence, but be refused Becher's Brook, where
Bunke, Thalassius, and one or two others fell and were
not persevered with. The Nun came down at the water-
jump and went on riderless. Kingwood, who was a long
way in the rear at the stand, also fell. Of the other um.
potatoes Charming Woman and Slieve Cane refused, and
so extinguished their c bacon. Alciblade, the winner in
1865, ran home third, jut in advance of Captain Croestree.
Haden, Hall Court, and Huntsman's Daughter, walked in.
Daisy was beaten at Valentine's Brook, which Mr. Thomas
Lad tho utmost difficulty to make him take. The main
incidents of the race have thus been briefly passed in
review, and all the detail, together with • record of the
whole day's running, will be found below:
Tits Werree Cur of 100 son. in specie, by athscription
of 5 soya. each, with 50 added, for 3-yr-olds and upwards ;
winuers extra ,• professional jockeys 51b extra, Mile and
a Ic6iliazteriiii.lll. subs.)
r. H Dobson's The amt (Mr.
(Mr. C.
.130ZAkell 1
Lord Westmorland's The ter ' • "Cr. tawon
(Mr. W. Hertll a
: 5 to 4 apt Three per Cent, 2to 1 apt The
Rock,iatli 3 to 1 apt The King's Daughter.
HORDLI HANDICAP of 5 soy& each, with 50 added ;
Cties and allowances. Mile and a half, over font
rites.
Lord Stamford's Brick (Mr. Crawahal 1
Mr. A. &fortiori's Nubia, (J. Gilbert
Lord Poelstes lfteriash (Mr. Edwards

Prima pow* alio ma.

Btu : Even Musketeer, 2 tOregat Briok, and 4to
Tea GRAND NATIONAL ernotoosn of 300 asps.,
added to a handicap sweepetakes of 25 lova. eaoh, 13 for-
felt ; second to naive 50 moo out of the Makes, and the
winner to pay 60 ova. towards openers ,• winners 1011;
(atm ; alerting opposite the stables. About four miles
and • quarter. (107 nets., 45 of when pay 6 moo sash,
and two did not mum.)
Lord Pealett's The lamb (Mr, 1
mi.. 1, Bemires Pearl Diver
lieM
Mr. B. J. Augers Aldine&
$
The following Mao ran:—Taub. Mama
Delay, The Ilwa, Germ Riagmeeed,
Moore. Pik Septets CreeWree, Heim, Thalmins. Bab 1:
The Plover, Kestroore,Clieredes moo end Mime flees
Philosopher was stook out at 12.15 p.m., and Tusaula.
num at 2.10 p.m. an the data the race.
Mr. Barber doelarod to win with Helen, and Mr. B.
Bayley with Moves.
Betting T to 1 bpi
Sweep, 8 to 1 soh
sot Moose and to llgiao e Lamb, 10 to 1 spt
Pori Diver, 11 to INO Daley, 12 to 1 Helen, 16 to 1
east apt AMMO' end Eantemaa's ter 20 to 1
apt The Noia t to 1 save opt Meru and
ti 3 apt Oreeekes, 40 tel 1 lea apt Bamako sad
Thalassies. Is 1 sash apt Pkffelt,liall Own, and Moo
Came, end es se 1 sips woo
The ileaml ease= d eariesky od ezeltenot wee Mr
played by the prams et the several esespetbers mad the
olitado to Oboe the proikOmmy IC: entimebish
114 Shp Irma& wawa: New* am music