The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-21 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

Of the two hundred and sixty-seven nominations for the
present Derby more than throe-fourths of them are hors de
combat, some from the chapters of accidents, others from
disqualification, and the remainder from being troubled
with the " slows," which is a prevailing epidemic with
most of our pseudo race-horses of the present day. It is
no envious task to select a winner where such enormous
amounts are being continually invested, and as there will
doubtless be a variety of changes between now and the
eventful hour of starting, I shall content myself on the
present occasion with discussing the chances of those
animals from which lot I think the winner is likely to
spring, unless one of the dark outsiders should be destined
to make himself a world-wide reputation by winning this
glorious prize. The following list includes all those, in my
humble estimation, likely to be heard of on that eventful
day, at any rato with a probability of distinguishing them-
selves

PUBLIC PERFORMERS.

Ran. Won.

Avron
Blinkhoolio

... 1 1
... 9 2

Land Tax
Marksman
Newland
Palmer ...
Pericles...
Elko
Taraban...
Trocadero
Vauban

Ran. Won.
... 13 4
... 13 5

Captain Kidd ... 5 1
D'Esiournel ... 8 2

9
... 4
_. 10
... 2
.. 1
... 5
... 15

Dragon ... ... 8 4
Freemason ... 8 4
Golden Bloom ... 4 1

Grand Cross ... 2 1
Hermit ... ... 6 2

Julius .4.

... 5 2 1
NON-PERFORMERS.

Master Butterfly, by Kettledrum, out of Butterfly.
Sir Oliver, by Stockwell—Maria.
Stockmar, by Stockwell, out of Kettledrum's dam.
Stradbroke, by Thormanby, out of Virago.
Tlaornapple, by Thormanby, out of Citron.
Of the non-starters, from whom I have only selected
five, my opinion at this time of writing is decidedly in
avour of Master Butterfly, about whose qualifications the
most satisfactory reports reach me. His breed, by Kettle-
drum, from Butterfly, winners of the Derby and Oaks, is
undeniable, and he belongs to a gentleman of the old
school, whose character is unimpeachable, and whose
horses are better worth backing by the public than three-
fourths of those gentlemens' of the present day, who, after
instructing their " commissioners" to get the last guinea
out of their horses, scratch them on the day, or an hour,
before the race, as the case may be. Sir Oliver is a well-
bred swell of another breed, about whom 1 have a very
good opinion ; and furthermore, 1 am led to believe his
noble owner fancies him sufficiently well to have backed
him to win a good stake. Stradbroko is also of undeniable
pedigree, and presents the appearance of a race-horse good
enough to win five Derbys out of six ; besides the fact that
he is sure to run for his owner's and friends' book. Stock-
mar, although ho has a particularly good private reputation,
is not, according to my notion, trustworthy on this occa-
sion, and I do not know sufficient of Thornapplo to give
an opinion, except that he is not the less likely to run for-
ward from the fact of his owner taking the trouble to
ignore the horse's chance amongst the principal portion of
his acquaintance.
Of the public performers Avron has certainly an outside
chance, as ho has only been out once, when ho started first
favourite, and won easily, beating eight others, amongst
whom were Bounceaway, Prodigal, and Charles 11. Blink-
hoolie is a great favourite of mine, and that he will im-
prove on his last year's form, I feel fully persuaded ; still
his running is too mediocre to give him a chance with
the best horses of his year. Captain Kidd has performed
very respectably, but is bound to give way to Sir Joseph
Hawley's horse, about whom more anon. D'Estournel is
backed for largo sums of money, but his chance, according
to my estimation, is a very remote one in comparison with
half-a-dozen other candidates whom I have in my mind's
eye. Dragon iv the most likely representative of the
French division, and although I cannot read him into the
winner, ho is one of the most likely horses in the race to
attract the judge's notice. An investment upon him at the
quoted odds most assuredly will not be thrown away
Freemason, Golden Bloom, and Grand Cross are just good
.
enough for their owners, if they feel inclined, to losesasimhean
rs
estate upon, but I sincerely hope none of yourTshuh cr
e Hermit
will be induced to invest on them this journey.
wsumicmheMr.r.
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iSstidlloilngmwusetllConafnedss htoisa ppurehjluicclifcarmagaisinsotfha:tnCe horse who
isihni,rsks
did
de matostthvealulsabttleer
profengagements,last
Pericles, and Trocadoro have all.
Land Tax, Newland,
shown more or less good form, but I cannot stand them in
icahndheifwhoondhoeiss
The Palmer is backed for lumps of money,
an
this company.
article,hwh
first
d not only onsltyamhpishpirmicbut
ase,
os tgheensutiynlee
not give satisfactory evidence to that effect on the Derby
day I shall bo much mistaken. The Rake, presuming he
can get tiro distance, is certainly the best performed horse
in the race, and under the care of Joseph Dawson is sure
to come to the post as fit as hands can make him ; still his
present price is not a tempting one. Taraban cut up
wretchedly in his solitary engagement, but I look upon
him as a coming outsider who is sure to be backed for heaps
of money before the day. Vauban is a sound, good horse,
and will, I hepo, do his grace more service than his last
year's representative, who, I always insisted throughout
the year Has an errant impostor. It will bo seen from the
foregoing remarks that I have a groat fancy for Master
Butterfly, of the dark division ; and I also think The Pal-
mer, Taraban, Dragon, and Vauban will see a much shorter
price; at the same time well at the post I think the
absolute winner will turn up in THE RAKE.