The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-10 00:00:00

SPORT.

XNOV,

LIVERPOOL SPRING MEETING.
THE GRAND NATIONAL.

Mr Jackson's Veterinarian, 3 yrs, sst 71b.... (Cameron) 1
Mr Wood's Rose, 3 yrs, Gst llb .... (Ward) 2
Mr Rich's East Lancashire, 4 yrs, 7st
Mr Payne's Tomfoolery, 3 yrs, sst 71h (J. Grimehaw) 4
The following also ran:—Ellerton, Persuasion, Ghillie
Callum, and Alice Leigh.
A protracted delay at the post was occasioned by several
breaks away, in one of whioh Persuasion and Veterinarian
ran to the distance. When the flag was lowered the former
jumped away in advance of Veterinarian, Tomfoolery, East
Lancashire, and Ellerton to the turn into the straight,
when she ran out, leaving Veterinarian with a clear lead ;
East Lancashire next the rails, with Tomfoolery and Rose
at his girths being nest in pursuit. At the distance East
Lancashire and Tomfoolery were disposed of, Rose follow-
ing suit in the next few strides, leaving Veterinarian to
canter in the winner by 10 lengths. Ellerton and Alice
trotted in after the placed horses, followed by Ghillie Cal-
lum, who got badly of. Persuasion walked in, but did not
pass the post.
The All-aged Selling Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 25
sovs added, for two-yr.olds and upwards. Weight for
age, with maiden and selling allowances. T.Y.C.
4 subs.
Mr Yardley's Mrs. Nesbitt, 3 yrs (£20).. (Ward) w.o.
A Handicap of 40 save, for all ages. T.Y.C. 12 subs.
Mr Barber's Cutaway, 3 yrs, Gat 41b (Loates) 1
Lord Uxbridge's Erythia, 4 yrs, 7st 31b ..(T French) 2
Lord Bateman's Gipsy Girl, 7st 111 b (including 71b es)
. G) 3
Mr R. Backhouse's Mrs. Nesbitt, 3(J yrs,r 6stimshaw 121 b
(Ward) 4
Mr H. Goater's Foland, 4 yrs, 7st 10Ib ....(E. Taylor) 6
Mr 0 wen'a Ellerton, 6 yrs, 88t 81b (A. Edwards) 6
Betting-2 to 1 agst Gipsy Girl, 7to 2 agst Cutaway, 4
to 1 agst Erythia, and 5 to 1 agst Ellerton.
The three placed got away in advance, Cutaway, on the
inside, having a slight lead, which he retained to the half-
distance, where he drew away and won very easily by a
couple of lengths ; a bad third. The others were beaten off.
The Grand National Steeplechase (Handicap), of 20
soya each, h ft., with 100 save added. The second to
save his stake. Winners extra. About four miles and
a quarter. 87 subs, 26 of whom declared, and two did

not name.
Lord Coventry's Emblematic, 6 yrs, lOst 61b (G. Stevens) 1
Mr J. Astley's Arbury, aged, list 121 b (B. Land) 2
Mr Dalton's Chester, aged, lOst White) 3
Mr T. M. Naghten's Thomastown, aged (h b), 12st
(J. Murphy) 4
Captain Lamb's Ocean Witch, 5 yrs, lOst 21b
W, Reeves) 5
The following also ran : —Reporter, Sir William, Jeru-
salem, Harry, Bantam, Wee Nell, Leonidas, Serious Case,
Romeo, Little Bob, Portland, Satanella, Bell's Lite, lreley,
National Petition, Real Jam, Brian Borhoime, Martha,
Miss Maria, and Satin.
The Czar was struck out at 2.15 p.m.
13etting-4 to 1 agst Jerusalem, 5 to 1 agat Bantam, 8 to
1 agat Emblematic, 10 to 1 each agat Wee Nell and
Serious Case, 20 to 1 agst Ocean 'Witch, 25 to 1 agat Romeo,
33 to 1 each agat Bell's Life, Thomastown, Ireley, and
Harry, 40 to 1 each eget Arbury and Martha, 50 to 1 agat
Miss Maria, and 1,000 to 10 agat Brian Borhoime.
Exactly half an hour attar the appointed time the 25 com-
petitors were mounted, and having taken their canters they
proceeded in a body past the stand, their variegated colours
presenting under the bright sunshine a picture not seen of
late years at Aintree. Mr. Marshall speedily got them in
order and despatched them from the post, Ireley being the
first away, but as they reached the lane he was headed by
Wee Nell, who rushed through her horses and went on
with a clear lead, closely followed by Ireley, Jerusalem,
Thomastown, National Petition, Arbury, Serious Case, and
Portland, who formed the advanced division; then cause
Bantam, Brian Borhoime, Harry, Romeo, Chester, and
Miss Maria, in whose wake Ocean Witch, Reporter, Bell's
Life, Emblematic, and Leonidas were seen in advance of
the ruck, at the tail of which came Silk and Satin and Sir
William. On entering the meadows they gradually selected
their places and cleared the first obstruction without
a mistake, with the exception of Satanella, who tell and re-
turned home; and at the succeeding fence the numbers
were further decreased by the favourite striking the timber
heavily, which brought him to grief. Mr. Edwards was
soon remounted, but this mishap left him considerably in
the rear. Approaching Valentine's-brook, Wee Nell some;
what increased her lead, and cleared it two or three lengths
in advance of Ireley, Serious Case going on third, Portland
fourth, close up with whom came Brian Borhoime, Ban•
tam, and Thomastown, the others following in close com-
pany. Rounding the flag for Beecher's-brook Ireley headed
Wee Nell, and proceeded along the upper ground some
half-dozen lengths in front, the Hedneeford mare still lying
second, close up with whom were Thomastown, Bell's Life,
Cheater, Portland, and Ocean
RweiatelhJ,afmol, Arbury,
followed
dby Reporter,
Leonidae,Bantam,
and
Emblematic
;
the latter lying wide of her horses on the extreme right—
the others beginning to exhibit a disjointed appearance.
The water jamp was cleared cleverly, and as they pro-
ceeded along the canal side the leading horses closed up and
ran in company to the fence in the course, Ireley still holding
his own, but half way across the common he was headed by
Real Jam, who came on with a clear lead and cleared the
artificial water in front of the stand first, followed by Ireley,
Thomastown, Portland, Leonidas, Bantam, Arbury, and
Silk Romeo, the
and Satin,
rear
in which order they pro-
ceeded along the meadows to -Valentine's-brook, which
in,
and beingEtu broughtblem lip by Jerusalem, Martha,atic,
Arbury cleared in advance, having Emblematic
Thomas-
town, Chester, Brian Borhoime,land Ireley as attendants.
Arbury retained his advantage to the fence into the course,
followed by
n Borhoime,
Twhhoicrahatshouwtwnoanledadcehressctleera.redFonretalarinyd taongdatilr,a
less fortunve, fell on landing, and were stopped on enter-
ing the straight. Emblematic ran up to Arbury, headed
him as they cleared the hurdles at the distance, and won
very easily by three lengths, a distance separating the
pair from Chester, who trotted in third, close up with whom
was Thomastown, in whose rear came Ocean Witch, who
was placed fifth, Bantam sixth. Leonidas, Wee Nell, and
Serious Case were the next lot.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE sty
SIR,—By referring to my notes of 'Monday last, you will
observe that The Sun was the only paper in London or the
provinces that repudiated the claims of Bantam for the
Grand National Steeplechase, and stood on Emblematic
alone as the winner. It gives me great pleasure to state
,hat the judge's decision accords with the opinion I then
A FRESH MAN.

expressed.
Liverpool, Wednesday, 4 p•°•

The following is the extract from my letter in
reference to the above:—

" Bantam has been the ruling favourite for the last few
weeks, and has been selected by almost every prophet in
London as the winner of the great race; but, great horse
as he is, as well as being one of the most accomplished
fencers, he shall not have my confidence on the present
occasion, although he was my selection last week when at
Bto 1. No doubt he will very likely start first favourite,
but, as Lord Dundreary would say,
That's no reason he should win.'
Emblem carries the top weight, but will give way to her
stable companion EMBLEULTIC, who will carry Lord
Coventry's money, and if she meets with no accident in the
race and. runs up to her trial, I shall fully expect the judge
to hoist her number as the winner.

My final impreeeion is that the Graad National Steeple-

Steeplechasing has this year received an impetus, of
which, if the sport was to hold its own with the rapidly in-
creasing business of the turf, it stood somewhat in need.
To the regret of its many admirers and the joy of its no
less numerous enemies, " jumping" races were getting
rather out of fashion. Light weights and courses, cer-
tainly not selected for the difficulties they presented, had
contributed to admit a weedy class of animal possessing a
certain turn of speed, with whom better horses had little
chance. The evils of this were apparent, and many noble-
men and gentlemen bestirred themselves to effect a refer.
mation. Conspicuous among them has been the Hon. W.
G. Craven, and to his exertions in the proper direction it
is mainly owing that the altered state of things, of which
the present Grand National is the first fraits, is likely to
prevail. Mr. Topham, the handicapper, has, in confor-
mity with the wish of all but a few interested parties,
raised the weights to the old standard, and this com-
bined with some improvements and alterations in the
course, recalling in some measure the palmy days of the
Liverpool Steeplechase, when the names of Peter Simple,
Jerry, Lottery, and Gay Lad, were " household words," has
contributed to invest the race with an interest lacking to
many of its predecessors. Not that speculation on the event
has been at any time very brisk. In that respect it has par-
taken of the general languor fallen on the sporting world.
But of what business has been transacted the Liverpool has
had the greater share. The entry has been a large one—the
largest indeed known, and from the publication of the
weights Bantam has held the position of first favourite.
Emblem, from her great performances last year, had still,
despite the weight, many influential friends; but she has
gradually retired in favour of her sister and stable compa-
nion Emblematic. Jerusalem and Sinking Fund, Portland
and Wee Nell, have each and all been backed with much
spirit, and probably at no time has the fiat of Judge John-
son been waited for with greater anxiety. Cross-country
races are proverbially lotteries, and the sudden change in
the weather reedering the ground extremely heavy, has en-
tirely put to the rout the "morals" and the "certainties"
with which the credulous have up to this time been be-
guiled. Fortunately the snow had disappeared this morn-
ing, and the stand and enclosure presented a far different
aspect from yesterday. The betting was very fluctuating,
Jerusalem find Bantam being the buckets in the well, who
alternately strove for the premiership. A twice-told tale is
but a dull affair. Sufficient to say that 25 came to the post
for the great event, which was won for the second time by
Lord Coventry, Emblematic, own sister to the last year's
victrix, landing his lordship's popular colours in a very
easy manner.
The Sefton Handicap of 100 sovs, added to a sweepstakes,
of 5 soya each, for 3-yr-olds and upwards. 'Winners
extra, but not to be accumulative. Six furlongs. 53
subs.