The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-09 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

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THE LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.

LIVERPOOL, March 8.

Rarely since the days of Lottery, Peter Simple, Abd-el-
liader, and other giants of the steeplechasing world has
this event excited so great an interest as on this, its 28th
anniversary. The revival of cross-country racing which
the last two or three years have witnessed has led to a
very strong entry and an equally strong acceptance on
this occasion, and Mr. Topham may fairly be congratu-
lated on the success of his handicap.

It was at first denominated a very open affair, but time
and consideration have narrowed this view, and the opinion
that there were about half a dozen in it has been pretty
generally endorsed by the public. Many horses have
figured in the quotations, but the amount invested has
been comparatively trifling, and the leading favourites
have alone been backed for money.

Lord Coventry's success the last two years had, of
course, the effect of making his representatives very for-
midable, while the Irish and French divisions were in
great force. The accident which deprived the latter of;,the
dreaded L'Africain's services we mentioned yesterday, and
Tony Lumpkin was the chosen of the former.
Arbury, who ran second last year, hadretrogmded within
the last 48 hours, after having been backed for a consider-
able amount during the past week. Lord Coventry's ad-
vice to his friends " to back the two" seemed to have been
followed, but George Stevens being announced to ride
Emblematic had the effect of still further strengthening
his position.
Never before had there been seen such a concourse of
people as crowded the stands and spread over the ground
on Aintree this morning. It was a Derby-day in the scene
of excitement at the railway station, in the rush for car-
riages, in the struggle to win the narrow way that led to the
enclosure. The line of people extended from the first fence
to Beecher's-brUok, and the thronged roof of the stand was
a sight to see. Twenty-three horses, all in the bloom of
condition, a magnificent sight, came to the post, and the
race, the incidents of which will bo found fully described
below, fell to Alcibiades, after a fine struggle with an ex-

treme outside; Hall Court.
The Sefton Handicap of 100 sovs, added to a sweepstakes
of 5 sovs each, for 3-yr-olds and upwards. Winners ex-
tra. Six furlongs. 56 subs.
Lord Westmoreland's Wild Duck, 6 yrs, 7st llb (inc 71b
extra) (Carroll) 1
Lord Stamford's Gownsman, 4 yrs, 7st 21b (Morris) 2
Lord Uxbridge's Arkansas, 3 yrs, sst 121 b ...(Heartfield) 3

The following also ran:—nano Shore, Leprochaun,
Worthless, and Jupon.

A. Ward weighed for Worth End, but did not get to the
post in time to start.
Betting-5 to 2 agst Wild Duck, sto 1 each agst Gowns-
man and Arkansas, 6 to 1 agst Jane Shore, 7 to 1 agst
Worthless, and 8 to 1 agst any other.
Jane Shore cut ont the work at an indifferent pace, but
was headed after running a few strides by Jupon, who
came on with the running into the straight, where Jane

Shore gave way, and Gownsman then went to the front,
and came on in company with Wild Duck and Arkansas
to the distance, where Lord Westmoreland's mare, who

had been previously disappointed, headed him, and won,
after a show of a race, by half a length. There were three
lengths between the second and third, Jupon was fourth,
Worthless fith, Jane Shore sixth, and Leprochaun last,
beaten off.
A Handicap Hurdle Race of 5 sous each, with 50 sous added.
• Winners extra. One mile and a half. Four flights of
hurdles. 32 subs.

Mr. T. Turner's Knave of Trumps, 5 yrs, 9st 81b
(Page) 1
Mr. T. Wadlow's West End, 6 yrs, lOst Mb (inc lb ex
(W. White 2
Mr. Barber's Cutler, 6 yrs, 9st 41b (Mr. Mumford 3
Mr. Lucas's Vision, 5 yrs, 9st 101 b (F. Martin 4
The following also ran ;—Zara, Duchess, Rod in Pickle,
and Corsica.

Betting-3 to 1 agst Knave of Trumps, 4to 1 each agst
West End and Duchess, and 5 to 1 agst Corsica.
Knave of Trumps, in company with Duchess, Corsica,
Cutler, and Rod in Pickle, got away in front, and made the
running to the first flight of hurdles, which Duchess, who

had gradually crept up, cleared in advance, the lot running
in a body to the mile-post, where the Duchess suddenly
disappeared from.the front, and became the absolute last.
Rounding the canal bridge turn Rod in Pickle assumed the
premiership, and with Knave of Trumps, Cutler, and West
End in close attendance, came into the straight together,
but on reaching the hurdles beyond, Lord Sefton's
_ .

nomination was beaten, leaving Knave of Trumps with
a slight advantage, which he retained to the end, and
won easily by two lengths. A neck between the second
and third. Vision was a bad fourth, Zara fifth, and
Duchess sixth, Corsica and Rod in Pickle being the

last two.
The Grand National Steeplechase, Handicap, of 20 sovs
each, h ft, with 100 sovs added. The second to save
his stake. Winners extra. Pour miles and a quar-
ter. 103 subs., 43 of whom declare and pay 5 sovs
each.
Mr. B.

Angell's Alcibiades, 5 yrs, 11st 41b
(Captain Coventry 1
Capt. Browne's Hall Court, 6 yrs, llst...(Capt. Tempest 2
Lord Coventry's Emblematic, aged, 11s 101

(G. Stevens) 3
The following also ran :—Emblem, Flyfisher, Joe
Maley, Acrobat, Meanwood, Arbury, Express, Merrimac,
Light Heart, Princess Dagmar, Philosopher, Stanton,
Tumbler, Tony Lumpkin, The Czar, Ace of Hearts,
Market Gardener, The Dwarf, Ballyca.sey, Freshman, and.
Mistake.

Betting-5 to 1 agskEmblematic, Bto 1 agst Stanton, 10
to 1 each agst Joe Maley and Emblem, 12 to 1 each agst
Arbury and Princess Dagmar, 100 to 8 agst Tony Lump-
kin, 100 to 6 each agst Alcibiades and Light Heart, 25 to
1 agst Czar, 28 to 1 agst the Dwarf, 33 to 1 agst Merrimac,
and 40 to 1 each agst Flyfisher and Acrobat.

In consequence of the delay in weighing out the jockeys,
it was upwards of half an hour after the time set down on
the card before the 23 competitors reached Mr. Marshall at
the post. After this failure they were despatched in close
company, with the exception of Acrobat, who jumped
round at the moment, and resolutely resisted all the per-
suasion of his rider to face his bit, and in consequence was
left behind. On settling into their places Meanwood rushed
to the front and entered the enclosures' with a lead of two
or three lengths, having on his right Joe Maley, Hall Court,
Merrimac, and Light Heart, and on his left lay Alcibiades,
Flyfisher, Arbury, Tony Lumpkin, and Mistake. in whose
wake were Emblem, Princess Dagmar, Stanton, the Dwarf,
and Market Gardener, who were whipped in by Philoso-
pher, Ballycasey, Emblematic, and the Czar. They ran
thus to the first fence, which Joe Maley cleared slightly in
advance of Meanwood, who was followed in a body by
Merrimac, Arbury, Hall Court, Alcibiades, and Emblem,
the others being widely extended and equally fortunate in
getting safely over, with the exception of Market Gardener
and Tumbler, who refused, and, although repeatedly put at
it by their respective riders' could not be got over and re-
turned home. Proceeding over the plough, Meanwood
again headed Joe Maley, and reached Beecher's-brook
several lengths in advance of Merrimac, close in whose wake
were Joe Maley, Arbury, Hall Court, Emblem, Stanton,
and Alcibiades, having Tony Lumpkin, Dwarf, Flyfisher,
Mistake, Princess Dagmar, Freshman, and Emblematic as
their immediate followers along the canal side. At this
point the tailing became extended, and on entering the
course Arbury was observed with a slight lead of Joe
Maley, Meanwood, and Hall Court, who, as they ap-
proached the thorn fence opposite the Stand, were joined
by Alcibiades, Emblem, Tony Lumpkin, and Merrimac,
who cleared it without a mistake, and proceeded nearly in
a line to the artificial water jump, which Joe Maley,
Arbmy, Emblem, and Hall Court took nearly abreast. On
landing the former took a decided lead, and led round the
turn into the meadows, but at the fence beyond he
blundered, and fell heavily, and was not after perse-
vered with. This mistake left Arbury with the com-
mand, closely followed by Meanwood, Hall Court,
Merrimac, Emblem, Mistake, Emblematic, Alcibiades,
Tony Lumpkin, and Flyfisher; the others following at
wide intervals, headed by Stanton, Philosopher, and Light
Heart, and a long way in their rear by Express and the
Dwarf, the two latter being pulled up and walked back to
the enclosure at Beecher's-brook. Arbury came to grief
by over-jumping himself, and his chance was thus com-
pletely extinguished, leaving Meanwood once again with
the lead, but before they had crossed the succeeding piece
of plough he was completely pumped out, and Knott at
once resigned the contest. These retirements enabled
Merrimac to bring his colours to the fore, Hall Court going
on second, Alcibiades third, with Mistake and Lord Co-
♦entry's two following close in his wake, to three fences
from home, where Emblem gave way to her stable com
panion, who joined Mistake at the next fence, and fol-
lowed the leaders to the fence into the course, which Hall
Court cleared several lengths of Merrimac, who was shortly
after headed by Mr. Angell's favourite, who waited upon
the leader to the hurdles at the entrance into the straight,.
which the pair cleared together, and raced for those oppo-
site the Stand, which Hall Court cleared in advance, but
was caught opposite the Stand, and defeated, after a fine
race, by a head. Emblematic finished a bad third, closely

attended by the riderless Ballycasey, Mistake fourth, Mer-
rimac fifth, and Emblem sixth. The others, who were
widely distributed, were pulling up, and did not pass the
post.
The Aintree Stakes of 5 soya each, 2 ft. to the fund, with
50 soya. added. Winner of any handicap after the pub-
lication of the weights (Feb. 20, at 10 a.m.) 71b extra.

One mile. 20 subs.
Mr. Saxon's Idle Girl, 4 yrs, 7st (J. Grimshal 1
Mr. Beadman's Stockinger, 6 yrs, Bst 61b (Ileslop 2
Mr. Wadlow's Queen of Trumps, 6 yrs, Bst 21b (Loates 3

The following also ran :—Gemma, Twilight, Aurelian,
and Jarnicoton.

Betting— 3 to 1 agst Idle Girl, 4 to 1 each agst Aurelian
and Twilight, 8 to 1 each agst Gemma, Stockinger, and
Jarnicoton.

Queen of Trumps got away in front, followed, in close
company, with Jarnicoton, Idle Girl, and Gemma,, Aurelian
and Twilight lying off. At the canal turn the Queen in-
creased her lead, but, on entering the straight, she was
headed by the favourite, who was joined half-way up by
Stockinger. From this point a good race ensued, Idle Girl
winning at last by a length ; a length separated the second
and third, Gemma was a bad fourth, and Jarnicoton fifth ;
Twilight and Aurelian were the two last.
Handicap Plate of 40 soya for all ages. A winner of any
handicap after the publication of the weights 71b extra.

Entrance 2 sovs. T.Y.C. 10 subs.
Mr. T. Hughes's Juliet, aged, Bst (Loates) 1
Lord Bateman's Gipsy Girl, 5 yrs, Bst 31b ...(T French 2
Mr. Saxon's Miss Harriette, 2 yrs, sst 121 b (Seaton 3
Lady Sefton and Lightfoot also ran.
Betting-5 to 4 agst Gipsy Girl, 7to 2 agst Juliet, and
4 to 1 agst Lady Sefton.
Juliet, getting away with a clear lead, made all the run-
ning, and won in a canter by three lengths : a like distance
separated the second and third. Lady Sefton was a bad
fourth.

Match of £5O each, h.ft.; llst. each. Gentlemen riders,
Two miles over six flights of hurdles.

Mr. Shaw's Careless Boy, aged 1
Mr. Lucas's Vision, 5 yrs 2
Betting-2 to lon Careless Boy, who made all the run-
ning, and won easily by a couple of lengths.