The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-19 00:00:00

SPOII7ING NOTES.

After the fall of Wild Oats the principal market busi-
ness of the week has been the support given to Pretender,
who has remained firm at 4 to 1 and 5 to 1 all through.
The Duke of Beaufort has been very firm at 7 •to 2,
though the demonstration in favour of Pretender has
somewhat weakened his position. The Drummer has
been backed at 7 to 1, and 100 to 15, but before
the break-up at the Victoria Club on Friday a
gentleman who is usually identified with the stable
interest took six fifties. Frequent inquiries were made
after Martyrdom, who would have met with substantial
support had 100 to 7 been forthcoming. Tasman, even
before his defeat at Newmarket, was friendless at 100 to
6, and nothing is heard of him now. The Chester Cup
was chiefly noticeable for the continued support accorded
to The /Egean, and a renewal of confidence in Paul
Jones, about whom nine fifties were accepted by a well-
known owner and backer of horses. Fair Wind was in
fair request at 100 to 8. At 33 to 1 Vansittart was occa-
sionally nibbled at, but the layers would have gone on
at those odds.

The Wild Oats affair is still the topic of conversation
in.sporting circles. There is no doubt that the horse is
gone once for all. His place in the quotations will know

him no more.

• With respect to Belladrum, opinions once more vary,
but his place in the Two Thousand betting remains 7 to
I—a price which would never be offered if the " pencil
men" did not know what they were about. A training
note from Lambourne states that he has been doing
work—gallops of a mile and a mile and a quarter, and
that he is certain to start. The fieldsmen, however, make
mistakes sometimes, as witness Hermit and Blue Gown.
There are meetings at Croydon, Lewes, Eastbourne, and
Cardiff this week, but the Croydon and Lewes races will
attract most attention, as few bookmakers will travel as
far as Cardiff. On Tuesday and Wednesday there will be
an immense number of sportsmen at Lewes, as a well-
filled programme has been issued. Scout, if brought on
to try conclusions for the 100 Soya Sweepstakes, will win,
but in his absence commend me to Ironstone or Cordicil-
laire. Epworth, from his Bromley performance, ought to
secure the Welter Cup, and the Town Plate by Drewitt's
best. The Two-yr old Plata will be carried off by St.
Leonardo or the Nelly Hill colt. On the second day the
principal race will be the Spring Handicap Plate, for
which Epworth, 4 yrs, Bst 41b ; Viridis, 5 yrs, Bst 21b;
Laird of Scotland, 4 yrs, 7st 121 b; Catalina, 5
yrs, 7st 91b ; Choral, 4 yrs, 7st 71b ; Black
Diamond, 4 yrs, 7st ; Bretby, 3 yrs, Est 121 b ;
the gelding by Weatherbit, out of St. Agnes,
3 yrs, Get 91b; Acaster, 3 yrs, Est 71b; Spider, 3
yrs, Est 71b ; Peninsula, 4 yrs, Est Mb ; and Workman, 3
yrs, sst 101 b, are likely to be found at the post. The best
of this lot I take to ba Epworth, and, in his absence, shall
trust to Drewitt's representative, either Choral or Work-
man. The Croydon Grand National Hurdle Race should
be won by Orno or Barnabo, and the Grand Open Steeple-
chase looks a moral for Globule or Steamboat.
A FRESH MAN.

RACING FIXTURES.
APRIL.

Lewes _2o I Newmarket Ist Spring
Croydon... 22, 23 26, &c.

, -----
MAY.
Chester 4, 5,6, 7 1 St. Albans 17 18
Eglinton Hunt 6, 7 ! West Drayton l7, 18
Winchester ll, 12 1 Bath 18 19
York 11, 12 Manchester l9, 2U, 21
Baldoyle 2ud Spring 11 12 Croydon 19, 21
Salisbury l3 11 1 Harpenden 2l
Doncaster 13, 14 1 Epsom Summer .....25, &o.