The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-08 00:00:00

awI:TING NOTES.

Without the Grand National Steeplechase the Spring
Meeting at Liverpool would be a complete failure, as the
day appears to have gone when the Spring Cup could
draw together goodly fields of horses; and there is
nothing of the Dundee, Lady Clifdeu, Big Ben, or Little
Lady stamp to compete for the Tyro Stakes. 'lbis anni-
versary Knight of the Garter had an easy task to win the
Spring Cup, as he had merely to vanquish the non-staying
Honesty, the Attack gelding, The Breach, Ajax, and Vol-
tigern —the latter of whom, though h 3 looked remarkably
fit, figured in the rear throughout. Knight of the Garter,
who has grown into a magnificent horse, was net
thoroughly wound up. Still, he won the above cup with
nearly 141 b in hand, and must be handy for the Chester
Cup, in which event his weight, with 51b penalty, is
9st 11b. The field for the Grand National was scarcely
so strong as anticipat:d, for only twenty-two competitors
went to post; and, with few exceptions, the horses that
ran wore very moderate in quality, as must be admitted
when the immediate attendants of the Colonel were
Hall Court, Gardener, and Ah'ibiade. The race itself
was a chapter of accidents from start to finish, and
the "moving incidents by flood and field" more nume-
rous than usual. Only thirteen horses charged
the water leap in front of the grand stand
the first time round, as Fan, Pearl Diver, Guy of War-
wick, and others, through refusals and fallings, were dis-
posed of ere two miles had been traversed. Neither Do-.
spatch nor Fortunatus the latter of whom was a mere
shadow iu camparison with his gigantic stable com-
panion, Pearl Diver—could stay the course ; and clever
though Messrs Brayley and Studd are, they were awfully
out in their calculations. Over grass land three miles in
extent Despatch and Fortunatus would, doubtless, be for-
midable ; but neither horse can stay, and the last-named
was the most unlikely Grand National winner we ever
examined, as ho is light, and deficient in size and power.
Despatch, who was trained to perfection, is an ugly horse,
but a fine mover. For the defeat of him and Fortunatus
there is no legitimate excuse, as both had a fair fight
for Aintree laurels; but what the fate of Fan and
Pearl Diver might have been, had they stood up to the
finish, it is impossible to say. Both these horses were
in blooming condition ; and it was " hard lines" fo

Messrs. Barber and Brayley that their representatives di
not run to the end. Guy of Warwick performed like
the coward he is, and steeplechasing is evidently not his
forte. Little Globule, whose fore legs exhibit signs
of decay, and Huntsman's Daughter ran well for a long
distance, but the latter broke her fetlock joint—
another blow for Mr Morgan, whose luck has been bad for
some time past. Q. C., considering that ho is a young
horse, presented a bold front to within half a mile of home,
and be is sure to make a finished steeplechaser when time
has matured his latent qualities. The first four at the ter-
mination of the contest—The Colonel, Hall Court, Gar-
dener, and Alcibiade—are fine cross-country horses; and,
considering that it was The Colonel's first essay over the
Grand National ground, his performance was a highly
creditable one, although the wretched pace at which the
race was run detracts somewhat from the merits of his
victory. The Colonel is home bred and trained, and his
owner, who is a Shropshire farmer, must feel satisfied with
the result of the race, as it is no empty honour to win a
Grand National the first time of asking. Messrs. Evans,
Roberts, and Stevens are, however, entitled to share the
honour of The Colonel's victory with Mr Weyman, as thby
have each contributed, by advice or otherwise, to the suc-
cersful resu't. For the "proud Salopians" the issue has
b en a great hit, as tho Ludlow division were on to a man,
and• The Colonel bad also strong bands of admirers in
Herefordshire and South Wales. His victory, therefore
was a popular one ; and, although wa never believed in hi
Grand National prospect, we willingly award thr3 honour
due to The Colonel, who is a half-bred son of the Knight
of Kars out of Boadicea.

There will bo meetings this week at Warwick, Mel-
ton, Pownpatrick, Ulveratone, Kingsbury, and Scar-
borough. The programmes, however, issued from War-
wick and Melton aro the only ones that are worthy of
criticism at this date. The Warwick Spring Meeting will
take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday ; and
for this pleasant gathering Mr. Merry has published his
usual lengthy broad sheet. If all the proposed events in
the programme fill, twenty-four races will be brought to
issue ; and the decisions in the Great Warwickshire Han-
dicap and Willoughby Cup may throw some light on the
fast approaching Northamptonshire Stakes, which has
been a dead letter in the market. The principal closed
items in Tuesday's card are the Trial Stakes, the Wil-
loughby Cup, a Two-year-old Sweepstakes, and the Han-
dicap Hurdle Race. For the Trial Stakes (1 mile) mall
Vale Royal, Silenus, Orion, Charnwood, and John Leech
have been nominated. This entry shows a lamentable
falling off, as compared with previous years, when some
of the best horses in training ran for this stake. Charn-
wood, if tit, would win easily; but as I have doubts
on that scare, my selection must be Orion, who has
recently been seen in form. Eighteen horses have
accepted for the Willoughby Cup (1 mile); and Yes-
pasian, 12st 71b, has been bottomed with the top
weight. This splendid nailer will, notwithstanding his
heavy impost, be bad to cut down. Knight of the Garter,
12st 71b ; Mast-e- Willie, lOst gib ; Historian, 10st 31b ;
Sister to Vedette, lOst 21b ; and Be fast, Pst, however, ap-
pear to be the pick of the handicap ; and the race may
finally be left to Blos,'s or Sir F. Johnstone'a representa-
tive, which will probably be Historian. A Sweepstakes
of 25 sous each (about 3 furlongs) will be won by Sister
to Veda, who is only likely to be opposed by Hollandaise.
In the Handicap Hurdle Race (2 miles)thirty-seven horses
have been weighted. As the minor forfeit, however, is
only 1 sou, and nearly every nominator is represented by
two or three horses, I shall merely point out Collins and
Lord Poulett's as being well in. On Wednesday, in the
Great Warwickshire Handicap (li miles) twenty horses
stand from the original forty-four subscriptions. Knight
of the Garter's weight has been raised by a 71b penalty to
9st 51b, and, despite this fact, the gallant son of Patna
Minister is far from out of the race. John Davis, if in his
ancient form, would be dangerous at Bst. Tertuilus, Est
121 b; Cheltenham, Est 121 b; Aggravator, Est blb ; the
Vixen gelding, Est 21b; and Robespierre, Est 81b, are, after
Knight of the Garter and John Davis, the pick of the
handicap. Robespierre, in the face of his spring engage-
ments, will scarcely be brought out atWarwick. Knight of
the Garter, however, is a likely runner, and either he or
Vortigern, who meets the Knight on 11Ib better terms
than he did at Liverpool, should hit the winning mark.
The Two-year-old Stakes (about 3 furlongs) is spoiled by
the name of Sister to Veda appearing amongst the
nominations, as the 71b penalty will not stap
her way to the winning post, when her best
opponents are likely to be Mimus and Ken-
nington. The Handicap Plate of 50 soya (half a mile)
should be won by Luna or Carita. The Debdale Stakes
by the Vixen gelding. The Hunters' Steeplechase we
award to Endsleigh or the Drone. On Thursday there is
every promise of an excellent day's sport, as the Grand
Annual Steeplechase and seven other races are down in
the list. Amongst the sixty-five candidates entered for
the Grand Annual Chase (about 4 miles) are Hall Court,
Gardener, Alcibiade, Despatch, Fan, The Lamb, The
Doctor, The Nun, Brigstock, Globule, Pearl Diver, For-
tunatus, Sea King, and Shakespeare. The winner of the
Liverpool Grand National has not been nominated, which
' is an unfortunate circumstance, as the presence of The
Colonel would have invested the Warwick race with con.
siderable interest. A powerful field may, however, be
-calculated on, as Mr Merry's handicap is on the usual
flattering scale. Fortunatus and Despatch may stay better
over the Warwick country than they did at Liverpool;
nevertheless I most esteem the chances of Fan, The
Doctor, and Brick, and I shall give Mr Barber's mare
one more trial before discarding her, as she is in splendid
condition at present, and none the worse for her fall at
Liverpool. The Hunt Cup Steeplechase (about 3 miles)
appears likely to be carried off by Fan or Fortunatus ; and
the Stand Handicap (1 mile) by President Lincoln, Master
Willie, or Sir F. Johnstone's selected.
The Mahon Steeplechase Meeting will be held on
Tuesday, and an interesting day's sport will be wit-
nessed, as three out of the five races in the list have closed
with good entries. For the Melton Open Steeplechase
' (about 3 miles) The Doctor was struck out at two p.m. on
Thursday. Seventeen horses now remain in, amongst
them Benazet, 12st 21b; Greenland, list 81b; Fan, lOst
131 b; Royal Irish Fusilier, lOst 121 b; Wings of the Wind,
lOst 41b ; Chorister, lOst ; and Primrose, 10st. Fan will,
we believe, take the Warwick instead of the Mahon Cir-
cuit; but Greenland, Benazet (or Royal Irish Fusileer),
Wings of the Wind, Primrose, and Chorister are amongst
others likely to run for "the Open." Of these the best will
be found in Primrose and Lord Poulett's representative,
which, notwithstanding his Liverpool defeat, may be Ba-
nazet, as he will like the easy grass land at Melton better
than the heavy ploughed country at Aintree. In the Open
Hunter's Stakes (about two miles), twenty-one horses are
found, the most noteworthy of which are Huntsman's
a gh, she
ought
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Sister, Alice, Scampston, Canny Woman, and Dolan.
Huntsman's Sister, it will be remembered, was made a.
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defeat Scampston, who is a useful stamp of hunter.
A FRESH MAN.