The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-04 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

Nottingham meeting, as far as it has gone, has been
nothing but a revelry of second and third class platers, and
the Nottinghamshire Handicap itself brought together but
half-a-dozen wretched animals. Revolver, being better
class than the remainder, won easily. The winner cut up
so indifferently in the Lincolnshire Handicap that neither
Lord Stamford nor his new aide-de-camp, Captain Little,
backed him for a sixpence on this occasion. Donne Canna,
who had been generally fancied, was out-paced from end
to end, and the Mountain Maid filly, my selection,
was not allowed to run, although her jockey had
weighed, and the number was displayed on the telegraph
board. Such proceedings as these are disreputable, and,
for the prevention of similar occurrences, the Jockey Club,
by virtue of their authority, ought to take the question into
consideration. There was no feature whatever on the first
day of the meeting, and, excepting the principal handicap,
the fielders must have found it " warm," as some very
groat "pots" were landed. Betting during the last few days
has not been remarkable for any activity, and at Tattersall'■
on Monday the principal incident was the menace of Mr.
Wybrow Robertson, the former owner of Boabdil, against
Lord Clifden for the Derby. His repeated offers to lay 13
to 2, or take 7 to 1, were received with a sarcastic
coldness and indifference by the spectators. National Guard
was out of odour, but it simply arose from the fact of the
horse having triflingly injured the crust of his foot, and
been put in physic. Carnival again looks like becoming a
favourite for the "blue riband," as 20 to 1 was taken to
good money on Monday, while his stable companion,
Pratique, who is lame, was driven out of the market. Ava-
lanche " came" a tremendous favourite for the Liverpool
Steeplechase, even to the surprise of the ring men, as it was
well known that several had been put in the market to "get
a bit" out of her. There is no doubt that she is now backed
for genuine money, but having seen her myself, or been as I
may say my own tout, she seemed to have lost all her action,
and I must confess that nothing would surprise me more
than to witness her success in the Grand National. The
Dane, if well, must take a deal of beating for Liverpool, and
Captain Christie, when he was in town the other day, made
it no secret that he was very sanguine, if not confident.
No movement has been made about Golby's lot, but Jeru-
salem will be backed, be a favourite before the day, and
nearly win. Jealousy's position nobody can make out, but
Mr. John Bennett, as usual, hovers about the Haymarket,
and informs all his friends that the old mare will win. So
he did last year, and then effected a compromise by making
his acquaintances "stand" Romeo at the last moment,
The Derby meeting follows Nottingham to-morrow, and
most of the professionals will journey there by railway.
Four events have closed, but the Union Hunt Steeplechase
remains open till the night before running. Pineapple has
incurred a penalty of 61b for the Midland Steeplechase,
which will increase his weight to lOst 11b, and he will about
win, unless Antelope should prove as good as Chris. Green
believes. The Staunton Harold Plate must fall to Faith or
Coimbra, and Sinking Fund or Remunerator will most
probably carry off the Hurdle Race. Henham Lass or Dis-
dain are "best in" for the Harrington Plate. To-morrow,
Thursday, the Royal Artillery officers have their meeting
at Woolwich, but the management of the affair is of such
a strange kind that I have an idea they wish to keep the
whole of the sport among themselves. In my next article,
on Monday evening, I shall examine the Liverpool pro-
gramme at considerable length, and endeavour to unravel
this steeplechase mystery. PEGASUS.
Wednesday morning.