The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-20 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES. 't'
No,
A FEW HINTS ON THE METROPOLITAN AND
CHESTER HANDICAPS.

" Have a care o'. the main chance,
And look before you ere you leap,
For as you sow, you're like to reap."
liudibras, Part 2, Canto 2.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN:

Sin,—The usual signs of the commencement of the
town season, and opening of Parliament, are apparent ica
every part of Belgravia; the daily arrivals from tie
moors, the continent, the shooting boxes and country
seats of the more favoured' descendants of Adam are
numerous, the cry is " still they come," and they, of
course, include the more aristocratic portion of " the
ring," all ready, with invigorated constitutions, to re-
sume their tasks or amusements of mending the constitu-
tion of the country, manufacturing laws, or dashing
through the campaign of Itshion, speculation, or svrt, as
their tastes, inelinntions,or engagements may prompt them.
This gradual gathering of the " tvvice two thousand," as
Byron called the world of fashion, is always the signal
for the annihilation of that apathetic want of spirit that
reigns supreme o'er the racing community during the
first two cf the winter months, and which is only abo-
lished by the arrival iu town for the season of the turfite
portion of the beau monde (who, by the bye, contribute
about one-third of the circulating medium agoat in the
ring) and the publication of the Chester Cup weights.
This was exemplified by the rather full attendance at
Taversall's on Thursday, when the first spurt of specula-
tion this year was made in a most spirited manner, and
since fully supported in the City, at Manchester, and in
the provincial sporting towns of note generally, espe-
cially at Nottingham, where betting rooms have been
opened within the last few weeks.
The Metropolitan (rather extended)
BETTING MARKET

(it being scattered here, there, and everywhere) through-
out the past week has ruled steady on the 2,000 Guineas
and Derby, at the prices quoted in my last note, with
the solitary exception of Grecian, who has advanced half
a point for the former, and been firm at 5 to 1 for the
latter stake; but on the Chester Cup a great alteration

has taken place, which would have been greater, had it
not been for the weights of Rhesus, Cossack, Wallflower,
and several others, having oozed out somehow or other
before the proper time of publication; thus enabling a
select few to forestall the market, which they did pretty
extensively about the three favourites named above. On
the appearance of The Sun last Monday evening, con-
taining my recommendatory notice of Lady Evelyn, the
public, already inclined to look favourably on her lady-
ship's chance for the " coop," took the hint immediately,
invested large sums on her that evening, and, as at Man-
chester, kept the game up throughout the week; the
consequence of this continued support has been to send
her up some twenty points, from fifty to thirty; thus,
in the course of a few days, partially realising my pre-
diction of last Monday, that she was "worth a heavy in-
vestment at filly, if for no other purpose than hedging."
Rhesus at 15 to 1 (his outside price, the majority of the
books being heavy against him) maintains his own;
Wallflower, The Italian, and Cossack, steady at 25 to
1; Haricot, the Knight of Avenel, Raby, and Trouncer,
at 40; and Flying Gent, Damask, Vatican, Brother to
Dough, Woolwich, and Peep-o'-day Boy at 50
to 1, have respectively their admirers and sup-
porters. The Metropolitan Handicap up to the
present moment has been all but a "dead
letter ;" at " the Corner" it has scarcely been
mentioned, but within the last day or two a few blows
have been struck in the City at the undermentioned
prices: —Baby (in request) at 20 and 15; Little George
at 40, 30, and 25; Exeter 30; Zenobia colt 40 and 30;
Vampire 33 and 30; Won't-you-come out-te-night 30;
Officious, Rhesus, Abbess colt, Vatican, Ceases, and
Mouse respectively at 40 to 1 each; all as yet, however,
taken to, comparatively, but small sums, and booked
principally at the list houses.
I shall now proceed to give a few hints on
THE GREAT METROPOLITAN HANDICAP,
which, from various circumstances, has been hitherto,
more or less, a failure.
Mr. Beeton and his friends in the licensed victualling
department of the public service, deeming that their ob-
ject in the establishment of this race—the making it the
great betting handicap of the spring—could not be
attained while the weights emanated from the " secret
council," applied to the Stewards of the Jockey Club for
permission to appoint their own handicapper, which was
readily acceded to, as most assuredly it ought to be, for
those who provide the sinews of war, I imagine, have
some little right to their disposal.
The immediate consequence of this was the appoint-
ment of Mr. Topham, by far the most celebrated public
handicapper of the day, to the unenviable employment of
estimating the various pretensions and merits of the 102
animals nominated for the Great Metropolitan Stakes of
the present year. The completion of his task has not,
however, given general satisfaction; the similarity
of the weights to those for the Chester Cup would
be the means of placing the ring in an awkward
fix, should a light-weight, entered for both stakes,
run home a good second fur the Metropolitan, as it would
check speculation to a great extent, and be all over but
shouting on the "great go" of Chester. It is my opinion
that the promoters and originators of the Great Metro-
politan Handicap might make it equally with, if not more
attractive than, the Chester Cup, were they to have the
entries published by the first or second week in Decem-
ber, the weights adjusted before the end of the year,
and the acceptances out by the second week in January,
at the latest; the adoption of this plan would, I fancy,
square the matter, and realize the most ardent hopes of
Messrs. Beeton and Co. As I remarked before, the
handicip is considered by no manner of means to be a
pert est one, yet, on the whole, in my estimation,
superior to any of its predecessors, as will be
found by a much larger acceptance being left in than
heretofore. It is not my present intention to enter into
an elaborate detail of the chances of the respective ani-
mals engaged in the two great handicaps, as it would be
perfectly superfluous, until after the appearance of the
acceptances, but shall content myself with dotting down
those leading features, in a rough way, that may attract
myparticular attention.

Foremost on the list is Peep.o'- day Boy, Bst 10lb, with
Dough and Glauca at Lib less; the mare good enough
to bottle up Dough's chance, and Peep-o'-day not likely
to show in ►he melee.

Russborough, Bst 61b, Clincher and Pitsford, Bst 31b
each, have not received justice from the handicapper; I
presume they will not be found among the acceptances.
Old Dan Tucker and Elthiron, Bst 21b each, seem to
hold all safe, down to Vatican, 7st 91b, who in my opinion
gives Sir Joseph Hawley an excellent chance of repeat-
ing the Fernhill dose. _ _

Cariboo, at 7st sib, Vampyre and Raby, 7st 71b each,
dispose of all safely enough at 7st 51b, with the excep-
tion of The Italian, who has a good turn of speed and a
lair share of gameness about him that may pull him
through on a pinch.
An arrow from the Goodwood Quiver may perchance
find its way to the mark, but whether with Officious,
7st 31b; Cheerful, 7st 21b; Exeter, sst 41b; Hesse Hom-
burg, 4st 101 b; or the black daughter of Velocipede and
Aspen, at 7st 31b, I cannot now pretend to say, as Kent
has had a great deal of illness in the stable lately.
The 7st division includes Rhesus, Hagley, and the
Dark Susan colt; the first-named, it is said, notwith-
standing his position in the Cheater Cup betting, will
make his debut on the Downs of Epsom; should he do
so he will be about the mark at the finish of the race.

Cockermouth and Minimum, at Est 121 b each, may run
up, but this is rather problematical. Damask, 6st 101 b,
now in Brown's, of Lewes, stable, is quite capable of doing
the " deed of note," but what says his owner of " the
willow glen ?"
Brother to Dough, 6st 101 b, I understand, intended
for Chester, he is a rough and ready customer.
Mickleton, Gladiole, Garforth, Wont-you come-out-to-
night, and the Knorassan's dam colt are also to be found
in the dangerous 6st 101 b class. Kathleen, Est 91b,
Mouse, Est 81b, Mulgrave, 6st 81b, Little George, 6st
61b, Eva, 6st 41b, Abbess colt, 6st, Estafette, 6st, and
The Swindler, sst 121 b, will all be found among the ac-
ceptances; the last named, if he has any running in
him, being from his size and blood an awliard looking
opponent. The chance of a three years old being very
good on the Epsom course, I must not overlook that
lot; the two Goodwood youngsters have escaped the
distemper in their stable, and are, from their stout-
ness and speed, dangerous rivals. Omens, at sst,
is promising; and so is Antigone at 4st 121 b;
but Sunrise, must not be passed by, at 4st
101 b. This clever winner of the Feather Plate
at Newmarket will be seen in the van, and it is
very probable her noble owner—albeit somewhat un-
used to such things—may see the sun of his fortunes on
the ascendant on the Metropolitan day.
Among the names that are to be thrown out, or will
be found beyond hope, are the following:—Russborough,
Clincher, Pitsford, Windischgraiz, Clermont, Musician,
Cydipus, Dulcet, Dough, William the Conqueror, Cot-
tlngham, Christiana, Narcissus, The Sweep, Torpor,
Champion, Miss Lottery, Aristocrat, Miss Spring, Miss
Kay colt, Ingratitude, Don Pedro, Elenhawk, and
Mina's Pride.

On the whole, I consider the handicap to be a fair one,
and the chances of many so well balanced, that I shall
not now make the attempt of selecting any one in par-
ticular, but patiently wait the result of the acceptance.
Now turn I to Mr. Topham's great gun, hie pet
Chester Cup, which is as light a handicap as could be
constructed, the top-weight being Bst bib, and the
lowest, the feather, 4st. This, of course, makes it par.
titularly unfavourable to the light weights—as, from the
fact of there being generally a field of between thirty and
forty at the post, on one of the worst courses in the
kingdom, it being perfectly round, and as Captain Rous
remarks, only fit for four horses to run comfortably
abreast at the same time—an infant cannot be ex-
pected to do much in such a crowd, when the
oldest and best heads make a mess of
it occasionally; but, to return to my work, as the nomi-
nations amount to 191, it cannot be expected that I
sh,.uld wade through the lot, therefore, the most notable
only will attract my reasoning faculties.
To begin with the favourites—Rhesus is decidedly
dangerous, but there are others whom I should prefer;
he is doing good work, and terrific mischief is meant
with him. Wallflower at the weight (6st), if she can
run at all, ought to win, but I have not yet forgotten the
Best Bower caprio,ki of 1846. Cossack, in his old form
at Bst 71b, must (if run to win, and there is not much
doubt about it) be one :of the first three! Lady
Evelyn, 5 yrs, 7st 8 b, I look upon as being
the most favourably-weighted animal in the
whole handicap. Her ladyship has just gone into ac-
tive preparation for this race, and, from present ap-
pearances, she bids fair to come out in her old form ;
and, it she does, it will be a good nag that beats her,
rot, fist 121 b
and so thinks her trainer. Toe Italian, at ist 51b, seems
to be Dawson's hope ; Trouncer, Bst 51b, appears quite
iss throughfafeaneie
db theut
not Cossack'sbyme
;
B; Hthareircu to
at Est 10Th, is well in ; Damask, 6st 101 b, springs
up again with a favourable weight, and is in capital