The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-07 00:00:00

THE SEVENTY-FOURTH DERBY.

Of the two hundred nominations originally made for
the Derby, four are void by the death of their nomina-
tors. Of the remaining one hundred and ninety-six,
death, doubtful understandings and inferior quality have
disposed of about one hundred and sixty, leaving me
thirty-five which may engage the pencils of the ring, and
from which the starters will in all probability be se-
lected.
I have divided these, according to their pretensions,
into five classes, as follows :
First Class—The Reiver, Queen colt, West Australian,
Orestes, Ninnyhammer, Pharos, and Cheddar.
Second Class—Sittingbourne, Umbriel, Cineas, Pha-
rold, Brocket, and Hurworth.
Third Class—Speed the Plough, North Pole, Honey-
wood, Orinoco, Filbert, Rataplan, aid Dupe.
Fourth Class—Lord Fauconberg, Towton, Vander-
decken, Stone Plover, Mr. Sykes, Carnabiensis, Bar-
batus, and Contentment.
Fifth Class—Ethelbert, Beverlac, Osiris, Mayor of
Hull, Balrownie, Walpole, John Bull, and Georgy.
Constantine and Rogers' colt by Jericho, I do not
know whether to class among the starters at the pre-
sent time but shall have something to say about them
in the course of the next three or four weeks.
West Australian is at present all the rage. He has
been remarkably firm throughout the winter in price,
gradually rising from 14 to 9to 1. When the oppor-
tunity has offered he has done good work ; is one of the
finest horses in the Derby ; and I should say, without
doubt is the representative of Scott's powerful stable.
His stable companions, Umbriel and Harwortb, do not
seem likely to contest the palm of superiority with him ;
and as for the Mayor of Hull, he is but a fifth-rate.
Honeywood within the last month has advanced from
an extreme outside figure to the position of second
favourite at 14 to 1 ; and this by no means upon
an extravagant outlay. Upon good authority, I can
state that he is overrated, and though he will prove a
tolerably good handicap animal, can only figure as a
third class Derby horse.
The Goodwood horse, Pharos, has been, and is steadi-
ly supported at a short price. He is in excellent con-
dition, and must run well.

Cineas, I fancy, is but a second class animal ; and 15
to lis good laying. There is something decidedly queer
about his position when such an animal as Contentment
is backed against him at a difference of only 5 to 2. Last
week, five pounds per thousand was given four or five
times over for the call on the day.
Orestes, who had disappeared some weeks from the
betting, but was going on right all the time, has lately
re-appered at 15 and 16 to 1, at which prices he will
prove a remunerative investment, as I have not the
slightest doubt, 8 to 1 or under will be taken about him
before the day. •
The Reiver, as I have before remarked, is in good con-
dition, though somewhat backward in work. He will
come with a great rush yet.
Ninnyhammer, for a long time 'missed from the bet-
ting, has again put in an appearance, and been backed
rather freely at 30, 25, and 22 to 1. This horse has
wintered anything but well, but if he goes on right now,
will prove his quality in the Derby.
The colt by Simoom out of the Queen, although not
mentioned in the betting, in my opinion •is a first class
horse, and I entertain that Wadlow will be able to win
the Dee Stakes with him, and place him for the Derby.
Cheddar has not been heard of lately ; he is a game
horse, but some slight doubts are entertained of his
training unsatisfactorily.
Sittingbourne is in first rate health, but is no Derbyite.
I fancy, Pharold's forte is speed ; so is Brocket's. Ori-
noco is faster than his stable compeer North Pole, but
the latter is blest with the best staying powers. Speed
the Plough is troubled with the slows. Rataplan is art
uncertain horse ; but if they can manage to keep him in
form will turn out well. Filbert possesses neither speed
nor staying powers sufficient for this race. The Dupe
promises nothing good as yet. Lord Fauconberg's
proper place is where 1 have put him—among the fourth
rates. Vanderdecken is also in the same class at pre-
sent, but will not be there next year. Carnabiensis is
an useful looking animal, and so is Towton. The pride
of C.. Marson's stable, Mr. Sykes will not turn out a
wonder. The same may be said of Barbatus and Stone
Plover. Contentment is but .a fourth class Derby horse,
whatever he may be in handicaps. Those horses I have
placed in the fifth class are much of a muchness, and
require no remark.

In conclusion, it is my conviction that the winner will
spring from the lot which I have above given, as com-
posing the first class 2 • and reserving Ninnyhammer for
future consideration, I think the winner will be found in
_ ORESTES.

The Reiver, West Australian, and Simoom colt will
be his nearest antagonists.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

INTELLIGENCE EXTRA.
NORTHAMPTON AND PYTCHLEY HUNT
MEETING, 1853.
HANDICAP for EARL SPENCER'S PLATE, 5 sow. ft, if de-
dared on or before the 15th inst.

Yrs st lb
Ephesus 5 9 7
ThePrimeMinister 5 9 3
Tonic 5 9 2
Russborough 6 813
Frantic 4 8 13
King of Trumps 4 8 12
Hungerford. 6 8 12
Alfred the Great 4 8 10
Timid Fawn 5 8 10
Faux-pas 5 8 6
Lapidist 4 8 6
Convulsion 4 8 6
Lady Agnes 4 8 2
The Heriot 5 8 2
Puritan 4 8 0
Heroine a 7 12
Kate 4 7 12
Leybourne 5 7 9
Hothorpe 5 7 7
Ethelbert 3 7 7
Janina 4 7 6
Sophistry 4 7 6
Tame
May Day
HANDICAP for the I
Yrs st lb
Conmore
LAelprry.Worthlesswh...
.e.n.t.
............ 54 8
a 8
544
Thunderbolt....... 4 8 4
W a verl e y ........... 45 87
12
Telescope
Burndale 4 7 6

Yrs et lb 5
20-
Placid 3 613 2
Common Sense
Gold Dust 3 612 20
Llanforda 3 612 St.
Gossip 3 6 10
Chilton
Alexia 3 6 10 8
Dick Turpin 3 610 10
Young Norval.— 3 6 10
10
Maid of Golborne 3 6 9 25
Batty Darling
Anteverta 3 6 7 1.0.6
Bridget 3 6 4
Whalebone 3 6 2 20
Coleraine
Eliza 3 6 2 St.
Ontspaw 3 5 13
Nerva 3 513 17
25
Tobolski 3 5 9
lonic 3 5 7
Aunt Phillis 3 5 3
Ernestine 3 5 3
Warbler 3 5 3 10

:NNKEEPERS' PLATE. 20
Yrs st lb 20
Ibis 4 7 6 2020
Ethelwolf 4 7 3 20
Lady Blanche 4 7 0 5
Chilton
Alexia 3 6 13 201
Molasses 3 5 10
Feramorze 3 5 5 5
Loraine 3 5 3
20

OLDHAM RACES.—The ei
remain open until the 9th of
given to the Oldham Steeph

tries for the 'Oldham races 12
this month, and the money 5
;hase has been raised from 10
20
20
20

701. to 100/.
Messrs. HOWARD and CLINTON'S advice on the Derby,
Oaks, Metropolitan, Chester Cup, 1,000 Guineas, North-
amptonshire, and Newmarket should be known to every
sporting man requiring genuine stable information. To
subscribers :—Telegraph not arrived. See Advertiser to-
morrow. Hopeful—back both, but not too freely, there
are so many " darkies." Terms : To Metropolitan,
1/. is. To Derby, 21. 2s. Address, H. and C., Post-
office, Coventry-street, Soho.

THE POST-OFFICE SERVICE.—In addition to the vast
number of memorials which have been already presented
to the Postmaster-General, -by the provincial and metro-
politan letter-carriers, others are being prepared by the
letter-receivers in London, for an advance of salary for
keeping post receiving houses, in consequence of the ex-
tended duty involved in the recent changes. The mail
guards are also on the move, in order to obtain an in-
crease of superannuation allowance. Perhaps it is not
generally known that the pensions to this meritorious
class of men do not exceed seven shillings and sixpence
,per week, except in "-Very special cases," which cases,
are, indeed, like "angels' visits, few and far between. '