The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-24 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

SPORTING NOTES—No. CCCOXXIX.

THE DERBY.

Out of the one hundred and ninety-seven nominations
obtained to this, the principal stake of the year, from
twenty-seven to thirty-one will be the number found at
the post. The class of horses this year, if anything, are
a shade better than usual ; and, if I am not very much
out in my calculation, one of the most exciting races
ever witnessed on Epsom Downs will be the result.
The field will be composed of :—West Australian,
Sittingbourne, Orestes, Mayor of Hull, Umbriel, Tal-
fourd, Jerry Kent, Stone Plover, Rattle, Vandecken,
Barbatus, Honeywood, Ninnyhammer, Cheddar, Ratap-
lan, Peggy, Pharos, Brocket, Filbert, Cineas, oomber-
land Sthatesmon, Orinoco, Pharold, Ethelbert, and
Spread Eagle. These are all pretty certain to run.
One of Mr. Clarke's it is supposed will start—Mr.
Sykes, or Singapore—and lonic is said to be a runner ;
but Contentment, Lascelles, Beverlac, Speed the
Plough, and Golden Plover, are on the doubtful list.
This last lot, whether they run or no, matters little, as
they cannot by any manner of accident win.
I will now proceed to a careful digest of the chances
of those animals that I have set down as certain starters.
Beginning with John Scott's celebrated lot, it is toler-
ably evident to me, that Umbriel, although he can stay
better than his stable companion West Australian, is
not equal to him ; therefore, for the most part, I shall
confine my observations to the crack of the lot.
Mr. Bowes' b c WEST AUSTRALIAN is possessed of one
of the best pedigrees extant, being by Melbourne out of
Mowerina (own sister to Cotherstone) by Touchstone,
out of Emma, (dam of Mundig) by Whisker, thus being
related to two Derby and one St. Leger winners. Ho
was early last year thought to be an uncommonly good
thing, and was backed at rather a stoutish price for a
good deal of the hard cash ; and, notwithstanding, he
was very heavily entered, only ran in two of his en-
gagements, neither of which performances are any crite-
rion of his merits. His appearance in the Guineas this
year, has caused many diversified opinions, being appa-
rently quite up to the mark, yet, many aver winning with
anything but considerable ease from Sittingbourne
who was in a half prepared state. It is my opinion
that he could have won by much farther than he did
had it so pleased Butler ; and I believe, as I have all
along stated, that whoever may be the winner to-morrow
lie will be one of his most dangerous antagonists. He
will be ridden by Frank Butler.
UMBRIEL is a nice compact little horse in capital con-
dition ; with a list of performances containing nothing
particular in them, and the fourth or fifth place he may
probably occupy. Sim Templeman will have the mount.
THE MAYOR OF HULL requires no consideration what-
ever, his chance being perfectly desperate. Holmes will
be in the pigskin.
SITTINGBOURNE, on the strength principally of his
exhibition in the Guineas has become a very prominent
favourite ; and being a large strided, slashing looking
gentleman with a good turn of speed, will finish in
front ; but as the absolute winner I cannot for an in-
stant entertain the notion. Pettit rides.
FILBERT, the only hope of ,Lord Exeter's numerous
lot, is doubtless going to run on the forlorn-hope prin-
ciple, which has at times brought about some curious
results for Lord Exeter. His chance, after the knocking
about ho has received this spring, must be infinitesimally
small, and to the nick I consign the blue and white
stripe on this occasion. Norman will do the needful.
NINNYHAMMER, the property of the lucky Captain
Lane, has being doing such capital work of late that the
stable think his chance as good, or pretty nearly so, as
any in the race. I fancy that the bad winter he passed,
and the indifferent state he was in two months ago,
must tell its tale ; and though I fancy the blood and the
shape of the animal amazingly, yet I do not hold any
hope of his getting a place. Who is to have the mount
is uncertain at present, whether G. E. Sharpe, Bartho-
lomew, or Whitehouse, although last evening it was re-
ported that the last-named individual was the one
selected.

Pharold, who is only a mile horse, or I am much de-
ceived, goes to Epsom without much hope of carrying off
the laurels. Mann will probably ride him.
ETHELBERT is a decidedly superior handicap horse ;
and had they reserved him during the spring, would
have made a tolerably good Derby one. but as the case
stands I do not expect to see him emerge from the ruck.
Crickmere will tool him.

JERRY KENT, both the Rogers' consider, upon the
strength of the line they have got through Ethelbert,
one of the very best horses in the race, will, I think,
find their calculations rather out, although I expect the
animal will run forward, being remarkably well built,
and bearing a strong resemblance to his sire. Sam
Rogers will, no doubt, do all he can to obtain a victory.
STONE PLOVER, own brother to Stilton, and from ap-
pearances no better than his brother, has but a very re-
mote chance of immortalising his name to-morrow. W.
Howlett rides him.

CHEDDAR, one of the highest bred horses in the
Derby, has suffered off and on for such a length of time
front doubtful understandings, that it is scarcely pro-
bable, notwithstanding the good work he has been doing
lately, that he will figure as A 1, or even obtain a place.
He will have the talented assistance of Job Marson.
RATTLE is a mysterious animal that I have not been
able to ascertain much about, but what I have has not
been in his favour, The mount, of course, is not
known.

VANDERDECKEN, the high-bred brother of the Flying
Dutchman, last year so completely outgrew himself, as
to render it impossible to be properly prepared for this
year's Derby. Ile will be steered by Marlow.
PEGGY, own sister to Nancy, is too wiry an animal to
compass the Derby course successfully against such com-
petitors as she will meet with. She is in capital condi-
tion, and will be ridden by Tommy Lye.
TAFOURD, own brother to Tadmor, has turned out to
be a much better animal than was at first expected ; but
as they have fairly run him off his legs, he will be of no
use to-morrow. Basham will be his jockey.
ElorrErwoop the mysterious ! is almost an imaginary
animal, and until he put in an appearance at Epsom was
cried down by nearly every one not of Osborne's party.
The horse, though not quite such an indifferent one as I
stated him to be some months since, is, however, in my
opinion, anything but the winner ; and I think he will
do very well if he can struggle into the front of the ruck.
Young Osborne rides him.

On oco will, I fancy, be the solitary representative
of the Fyfield Stable ; and for all the good he will do,
they may as well have kept him at home. Sly, I be-
lieve, will ride.
CINEAS, who has been the shuttlecock of the ring for
months, is a horse with a large stride, not very well
filled up, and I have no idea that he will do the deed.
A. Day will be at the helm. _ _

PHAROS, the shining light of the Goodwood stable and
many of the aristocracy, will be brighter on this, than
on any previous occasion. _ The horse has been backed

for a great deal of money, is the picture of perfection,
will be ridden by Nat, and ought to be one of the first
three.

BROCKET, on the strength of his solitary performance
last year, has found many friends, but lam very much
afraid he is not suited to the distance.

BARBATUS is a remarkably fine animal, much better
adapted to the flat than to the course at Epsom. He is
almost sure to finish in the ruck. It is said he will be
ridden by Smith.
ORESTES, the horse whom I selected for the winner in
my analysis of the Derby which I gave in the winter,
stands as high in my estimation now as then. He is in
first rate condition, and will be steered by Charlton.
SPREAD EAGLE, the stable companion of Orestes, also
runs, but has not the shadow of a chance.

RATAPLAN will run moderately well, but as soon as
the pace is made good will give in.
COOMBERLAND STMATESMON will help to swell the
field.

To sum up, I expect to see the winner of the Derby of
1853, in Baron Rothschild's

ORESTES,
and if anything beats him it will be either WEST AUS-
TRALIAN Or PHAROS.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

13i
20
20
50

gi
31

121.12
121
St.