The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-17 00:00:00

Meeting at Newmarket, by two slick moderate animate
as Vert Vert and Cocoa Nut. Bowstring's chance, there-
fore must be very stringy.
There was no betting on the Downs.
Forth's lot, consisting of Oxonian, Old Port, Good
Coin, Laundry Maid, Caversham (2 yrs), Noiseless
(Oaks), and Wintonia, were hourly expected at Ash-
stead.

John Day's lot will be there on Tuesday.
Our opinion of Oxonian has been materially
strengthened since our first edition yesterday ; and we
confidently expect to see him pull through triumphantly.
Aliwal (who was out) will be ridden by Wakefield ;
and Red Hart will have Henry Bell up, instead of Ab-
dale, as stated in our list of probable starters.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sia,—The glorious prospect of a soul stirring carnival
on the Downs of Epsom, during the forthcoming meet-
is quite exhilarating. The festival of Wednesday next
will completely take the shine out of all its predecessors
from the days of Bunbury and Dimmed, to Gully and
Pyrrhus the First; never has there been seen on Epsom's
far-famed Downs so great a multitude of all classes, from
the Peer to cliiirney-sweep, as will be assembled on that
delectable spot on the Derby day.
During the past week, Cossack and Conyngham with
Van Tromp close up, have, notwlths!amding a good pep-
pering, been very buoyant at the " corner." Mr. Martin
on the contrary has lost caste rapidly, and is now vir-
tually an outsider. Mirmillo's marvellous jump on
Friday, from 1,000 to 15, to 20 to 1 taken, looks very
ominous; he was tried not quite a fortnight a go, and
found to- be a clipper, consequent upon this trial he was
pt steel off' to Newmarket, for the Suffolk Stakes which
he won very, very easily, with lots to spare, his admirers
think he can and will win the Derby, we shall see.

The other moves of the week -do not require any
notice whatever. The field for the Derby Stakes will be

taken from the following, viz:—
Nottingham, Bingham, The Questionable, Golightly,
Planet, Gabbler, Glentilt, Crozier, Vice Consul, War
Eagle, Epirote, Bedlam, Montpensier, Wanota, Camel-
ford, Van Tromp, Oxonian, Chainbearer, Mirmillo,
Mathematician, Buckskin, New Era, Timotir, Will-o'-
the-Wisp, Lionel, Limestone, Mr. Martin, Old Port,
The Liberator, Retort colt, The Cossack, Conyugham,
Red Hart, Halo, Good Coin, Philosopher, Ulysses,
Siguet, Christopher, The Admiral, Bowstring, Black
Dwarf, Aliwal, Clarendon, The Reivier, and Eryx. From

, .
this lot about thirty will be selected as starters, what
their names are at this present moment no mortal power
can tell, but to-morrow, in giving my lest observations
on this " first of races," I have no doubt I shall be able

to furnish a correct list of the quadrupedal opponents.
The Questionable, Golightly, Gabbier, Crozer, Vice
Consul, Bedlam, Cameliord, Buckskin, Will-o% the-
Wisp, Christopher, The Admiral, Aliwal, Clarendon,
and Eryx, form that well-known class, who possess not
the most remote shadow of a chance of passing the post
first, but who are generally sent to cut out the work for
their more speedy stable companions. I will now proceed
to scan the merits of the thirty-two fortunate nags sup-
posed to possess a chance in this Derby " lottery." Not-
tingham, by Colwick out of Ellen, first on the list, but
not first in the race, is but a very moderate animal, his
only performances this year being at Liverpool, when he
won the Sefton Plate, beating a crew of second rates; it
is said he has improved considerably of late, but whether
or no he cannot have any pretensions to the Derby.
Colonel Anson's Bingham will run well. Planet, by
Bay Middleton, out of Plenary, will, after all, be Kent's
horse, being, in the opinion of Lord George Bentinek,
second to nothing in the race but Van Tromp, in fact,
he has often expressed an opinion that the Derby will be
decided thus—

Van Tromp
Planet 2
and his opinion in such matters is by no means to be
despised.
Wendlt, by Plenipotentiary, out of Glenlin, has not
looked particularly blooming of late—his chance is gone.
War-Eagle—a very inferior eagle to war with.
Epirote, the son of Epirus and the Mickleton Maid,
will cut a much better figure than is generally expected.
Montpensier—a candidate for the sixth place.
Wanota ; doubtless a clever nag, and particularly
clever at shutting up early.
Oxonian, by Wintonian, dam by Laurel, out of Flight,
a vary flighty pedigree, not likely to fly off with the
laurels to Mitchell Grove ; his owner can send forth a
better horse by 101bs. than this.
Chainbearer cannot stay the distance.
Mirmillo, by Gladiator, out of Morella, will rim game,
but that is all I can say in his favour.
Mathematician will have had enough by the time he
arrives at the distance post.

New Era, by Plenipotentiary, out of the Era's dam ;
if ♦ery good blood, condition, and power can pull him
through, he will not be far from winning ; and yet he
is not in the slightest favour among the knowing visi-
tors of the corner.

Timour—Sir Gilbert's only starter, out of three no-
minations, all very inferior.
Lionel and Mr. Marti❑ may as well stop at home, so
may the Retort colt and Mr. O'Brien's Sheet Anchor—
the Liberator, not one of the lot will be able to live the
pace.
Mr. Merry's Limestone, out of Decoy, will not attract

my cash.
Old Port, by Sir Hercules, out of Beeswing, a
splendid drop of Beeswing for Mr. Worley. He is a fine
lengthy animal, shoulders well back, immense
quarters, capable of ascending the hill with ease, and
will have half the field safe before he arrives at the
road.

Day's two have been running, for some time, a neck-
and•neck race fur the premiership, with Van Tromp
close upon their heels. In my fancy, this very much
resembles the race of Wednesday next, at the Stand
most probably Cossack will be very forward until the
Van arrives at the stand, then the work will be taken
up by Conyngham, Van Tromp, and another or two,
which will end as hereafter stated.
The distance is rather too far for the Cossack, but it
suits Conyngham very well indeed. Red Hart and
Halo will run nothing more. Ulysses—a large horse,
half prepared.
Lord Strathmore will not seal the stakes with his
Signet.
Lord Stanley's Bowstring will not be pulled to any
advantage at Epsom.
The Black Dwarf's chance is dwarfish indeed.

The Reiver and Eryx must look out for smaller fry.
Last of all, we come to the winter crack, hight Van
Tromp, the unbeaten wonder, who, a la Sting, disposed
of every antagonist quite cavalierly, and now, still fol-
lowing Sting's example, he will succumb to a more for-
tunate rival. At the present time, my candid opinion is,
that Cossack will resign his lead at the Stand to
Conyngham, Van Tromp, and Old Port, New Era, Mir-
millo, Planet, and Monipensier, being well up. The
struggle then commences, and, after a desperate race,
finishes in favour of
Conyngham
Van Tromp
Old Port
The Woodcote Stakes will start a good field, with
Flatcatcher or Woodcraft for winner.
As a " counsel in Chancery," I advise my clients to
read this brief, and if in doubt, to take the benefit of
the Act, for every word contained in this letter is
founded on fact, and is the result of long experience.
As yet, I have never been wrong oft the Derby.
Last year I named Fancy Buy and Pyrrhus the First for
my champion ; the year before, The Merry Monarch ;
and this year, with Conyngham, Van Tromp, and Old
Port, I think I can pull through again.
A. list of the starters, and any observations that may
come under my notice in the course of the next twenty-
'our hours, I will give, in a brief epistle, to-morrow.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

May 17, 1847.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—As it is the custom now among certain wise men
(not of the east, but the turf) to imitate Lord Byron by
puttinging
prophetic their
"done
dreaminspirations i into
o intorh verse"me,lfo
havers sent
notth e f
approvalfollow-
ing
and that of your readers, on the all-absorbing subject of the
coming Derby :
The bell has rung; all to the post do hie,
To view the horses and pronounce their judgment;
Which done, they range them in a row,
Preparing for the start.
The course is cleared,
The horses paw the ground;
Hardly the second bell is heard
Amid the din around.
" They're off ! They're off 1" is heard from every mouth,
Though all join in, yet still 'tis not the truth;
'rhe start is false, and at the post again they muster,
Once more the signal's given—They're off! and in a cluster.
As to make dust fly, like hailstones on a stormy day,
Bingham takes the lead, and at a fearful pace makes play.
Cossack closely follows, and soon in
reachedfrontin
t u rhne
d; shows,o
lead—
Now
But suddenly recedes, as if affected with the slows.
Bingham resumes the lead, War Eagle in his wake;
Oxonian now appears, running for Old Port- to make.
The hill's ascended; Bingham's still ahead:
Planet advances,
takes.ad vlavnicthe s,Caonssdacwk•
Tromptride
thtetileeHaCadortrner'sneared ;
Here Epirote his horseshhoeaadft,earncdotnheedniatthwenChoairniewmr's clewed.
The The ntiltvberriyngneuarp.the rear,
stotothsuepl.ead aspires.
LDiubtecrhamtoaen;nwexitht, Conynghamwitah dl
long stride
and Red follows,
here give u •
Tar Eagle, Epirote, p ,
Oxonian's mission now performed, he back retires ;
Bingham,NOVl idthl o/Irl tOriNtBpe Mathematician,
us i er,l alo .
The Road is pass d: Planet now leads the van;
The race is left to eight—Planet, Mathematician,
Conyngham, Glentilt, Old Port, Van Tromp,
03Ildr.P18ofartr'tsinhawrdithhe7dr;
NlOnooswsa
ccok twelveaenmsd
toihrteee dssttHrir
udagergst Hart—all lns idtna
tnandrleiusem p.
Old Port wins;
All eyes are strained, all necks are stretched.
now Conyngham; but Planet shows
ahead.
The Derby's o'er—the vision's past—the race is won—
Mr. Clark the palm awards to Beeswing's only son,
And the monstrous CONYNGIIAM the Planet has outshone.
1 am, Sir, yours, &c.
ma
nodatannydnd PlanetaGo Ulyssesl
goes