The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-15 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

The Northampton and Pitchley Hunt Meeting will take
place to-morrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday, the 17th
inst. Fifteen races are in the list, seven of which have
closed for to-morrow, amongst them the Great Northamp-
tonshire Stakes, run for over the two mile course, and
in which 44 horses have accepted. Romping Girl, 9st, fills
.the post of honour, and she has a better chance in this race
that for the Chester Cup, as she stays well, and the soft
ground wilt suit her action. Still neither Romping Girl
nor Friday, Bst 101 b, read so formidable as Blueskin, Bst
21b. The latter, it is reported, won a good trial with John
Davis, Miss Havejock, and others, on Thursday ; and if he
is superior to the Buckenham's dam filly, sst 71b, at their
respective weights, then the horse that beats Blueskin,
who belongs to the game, staying school, will win this
handicap. Cap-a- pie, Bst, is dangerous, and between
this horse and Blueskin it must be a close race,
judging by their positions in the Great Yorkshire
Stakes, at 'the York August Meeting, where Cap-a-pie
defeated Blueskin a neck at level weights. Kingaland, 7st
111 b, is not fit, and, moreover, cannot stay the course. The
Special, ist 101 b, in my opinion, is inferior to Mr. Bray-
ley's three-year-old, The Duke of Beaufort, Est 81b, who
is the best handicapped horse in the race; and if the Duke
has improved as ho ought to have done since last autumn,
he may prove a second Mariner to his owner. Eearte, 7st
71b, I thought well in when the weights were first issued
—but, after his defeat by Midwife and King of the Fairies
at Shrewsbury, I am compelled to discard this son of
Chevalier d'lndustrie. Mr. Parr has another representa-
tive—Cattio, Est 61b—but her antecedents are bad, though
she is bred like a stayer. Catiliuc, ist- llb ; Redivivus,
7st; Planet, Est 131 b ; Ackworth, Est 121 b ; and Ben Nevis,
Est 111 b, are inferior to Our Mary Ann, 7st, who is the
pick of the middle weights, although in addition to
those named I find Glengarnock, bat 121 b; Belfast,
6st 101 b ; Ploughboy, bet 91b ; and Redcap, 6st.Blb,
included in that division. Clovis, Gipsy King, Marquis of
Carabas, snd Izaak Walton, each handicapped at Est 7th,
are very moderate ; but if either horse possesses a winning
chance it is Marquis of Carabas, who is thoroughly fit, and
is reported to be considerably improved since last year.
The most noteworthy horses among the three-year-olds,
after the Duke of Beaufort, aro Robespierre, Est 121 b; Cocoa
Nut, Oat 21b; The Provost, sst 121 b; Vansittart, sst 161 b;
Birthday, sst 71b ; Arbaces, sst 71b; and the Bockenham's
darn filly, sst 71b. Looking at tho market movements in
connection with the City and Suburban, however, it seems
probable that neither Robespierre nor Cocoa Nut will
appear in public till that handicap comes on for decision,
Vansittart, Birthday, and the Buckenham's dam filly may,
however, be sent to Northampton; and of this trio we
decidedly prefer Vansittart, who is a good colt, and sure
to win an important handicap this year. The best of tho
horses likely to run for the Northamptonshire Stakes we
take to be Cap-a-pie, Blueskin, Our Mary Ann, Tho
Duke of Beaufort, the Buckenham's dam filly, and Van-
stttart. But I think either BUCKENHAM f. or CAP-
A-PIE will be registered the winner. In the Stand
Plate (one mile) 31 horses have been handicapped,
and Xi, 9st 21b, has been honoured with the top weight.
Over a half-mile course he would be dangerous, and so
would Salliet, Bst 41b, and Bounceaway, 7st 81b. Neither
of this trio, however, will in this race beat Pirate Chief,
7st 121 b; Citron, Est 121 b; Veda, 6st 41b; and Pompeii,
sst 121 b. Of the latter division I most esteem the chances
of Pirate Chief and Vede, both of whom will like the dis-
tance. To. the Northamptonshire Cup States (2 miles)
certain sellirg conditions attach, and Mr Buckley may not
be disposed to part with Success for 500 soya. Otherwise
the old horse would wine but, presuming on his absence,
I can select nothing capable of "eating Acaster and Miss
Grativicke. There are fifty-two nominations for the
Delapre Free Handicap (about four furlongs). As the
weights now stand, the most faro treatel candi-
dates are Benevolence, 7st 101 b ; Mornin:- Star, 7st 61b;
Quality, 7st 21b ; Bessie Dix m, 7re. Ilb ; Glen Stuert, 6st
81b; and Kicksey Wicksey, Est 41b. The winner of tide •
race is liable to, be claimed fur 103 sovs, and it is therefore
difficult to conjecture what horses miy accept, and rue.
Should Quality or Kicksey Wicksey, however, put in an
appearance, the better of the. pair may win, as both are
quick fillies over short courses. For the Wakefield Lawn
Stakes (about 4 furlongs) thirty-six two-yr-olds have been
named, amongst them Sister to Veda, Master Walter,
Pate, Mimus, Kennington, Tit-bit, the filly by Claret
l out of Fly, and the colt by Ely out of Theodora.
Though both fillies are penalised, the contest will be re-
I duced to a match between Sister to Veda and Pate, and
11 Mr. Pryor's representative may just beat Pate, who, how-
ever, looked likely to improve at Lincoln. In the Whittle-
bury Stakes (about 6 furlongs) eight two year olds have
I been engaged against nine threes. Revenge, Stephanotis
and the colt by Kettledrum out of Prelude are the best of
the juveniles, and the three year olds are strongly repre-
sented by Lumley, Cocoa Nut, Arnadou, Miss Dayrell, and
Carita. Seldom has a two year old been successful over
the severe six furlongs course at Northampton, and there
is little hope for them this anniversary, when opposed
by such a great horse as Lumley, fur whom we
shall plump. The completed races for Wednesday are
the St. Liz Handicap, Earl Spencer's Plate, the Sulby Han-
dicap, the Althorpe Park Stakes, and a Sweepstakes of 20
sovs each. The St. Liz Handicap (11 miles) will furnish
an interesting contest, as amongst the forty-three horses
left in are Blue Gown, 9st 41b ; Vespasian, 9st 41b ;
See Saw, Bst 121 b ; Grimston, Bst 61b; Cap-a-pie,
7st 7lb ; Eastley, 7st; the gelding by Vedette out of
Vixen, Est 71b ; Lady Beaconsfield (the filly by New-
minster out of Lady Melbourne), Est 41b ; Ventnor,
6st 21b; and Compromise, sst 121 b. Vespasian will, we
believe, throw down the gauntlet to Blue Gown,
but the latter could have beaten the former at even weights
in the Fitzwilliam Stakes at Doncaster September Meet-
iug, over the mile course, which is Vespasian's favourite
distance. See-Saw will meet Blue Gown on 61b worse
terms than he did in the Cambridgeshire, which should
cause theirpositions to:be reversed, and insure the victory
of Blue Gown, who has little to fear from the three-year-
olds in this handicap. For Earl Spencer's Plate (about 5
furlongs) thirty-nine horses have accepted, and the weights
range from Leonia, 9st 21b, toWellington, sst 71b. Uleverly
as the imposts have been apportioned, we select the fol-
lowing as the most leniently treated :—Bounceaway, 7st
121 b; Lictor, 7st 41b; Dryad, Est 101 b ; Lady Beacons-
field, 6st 91b ; Morning Star, Est 61b ; lslam, Est 41b; Bessie
Dixon, 6st llb ; Nanny Thormanby, sst 121 b ; and Wel-
lington, sst 71b. In scrambles such as races of this de-
scription generally are the best horse rarely wins. How-
ever, in lots against the field, I should retain Dryad,
Bounceaway, Nanny Thormanby, Lictor,and Bessie Dixon.
Bounceaway, if in her three-year-old form, could not be
defeated ; but, though Prince Soltykoil's filly looks very
tempting, I shall 'rely on Dryad and Nanny Thormanby.
In the•Sulby Handicap (4 furlongs), which is the first
Nursery of the season, 15 juveniles have been entered,and
the highest weight-Bst 101 b—has been awarded to Coun-
tryman. This half brother to Rustic, however, does not ap-
pear so well in as Mimuaand the Colt by Kettledrum out of
Nelly Hill, and to this pairil look for the winner. To the
Althorp Park Stakes (about 4 furlongs) there are 54 no-
, minations, and, luckily for the owners of second•
class two year olds, Sister to Veda has not been engaged.
In fact, Mr Pryor has nothing entered—a singular omis-
sion on his part, seeing that he generally possesses good
two year olds. Amongst those named for the Althorp Park
this year are Pate, Stephanotis, Hollandaise, Mimus, St.
Leonard's, Tit-bit, Florian, Cherubin, Roquefort, the
I filly by Kettledrum out of Ellermire, the colt by
; Asteroid out of Miami, and the colt by Blair Athol out of
Lady Louisa. The latter horse, it will be remembered, was
made a strong favourite for the Brocklesby Stakes at Lin-
coln, but ran nowhere in the race, He is a common-
looking colt, and, notwithstanding the high trial this son
of Blair Athol was said to have won with ltetty, 1 believe
the issue of this race will rest with Pate, Hollandaise, and
St. Leonards. The Sweepstakes of 20 aovs each will be
won by Master Walter, if his owner sends him to North-
ampton.
A FRESH MAN.

ASSISTANT CLERKSHIPS FOR THE ROYAL NAVY.-
The examinations for four assistant clerkships for the
Royal Navy were concluded on Friday last, when Messrs.
Malcolm Cameron Murdoch, William W. H. Markham,
R. B. Savile, and Ambrose Wall were the successful can-
didates. The first passed from Bell's Academy, Portsea ;
the second and fourth from Eastman's Academy, South-
sea; and the third from Vickery's Hope House Academy,
Southsta.