The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-11 00:00:00

SPJF.TING iNTELLIG3NO.

(From Newmarket Correspowlenf of the Racing Times.)
The Spring and Au'uniu Meetings at Liverpool are
generally regarded with considerable dread by those whose
constitutions are not rn t,13 of the stro g sst us aerials, for
there is no place in England where the wind usually blows
more keenly during those seasons than at Aintree; but,
fortunately, this last week was an exception to the rule,
and the weather was pleasant to a degree. The gathering
thrOughout the four days was unusually large ; the fields
were numerically strong, and the contests in many cases
next door to dead heats. At the same time—and let
me hope this is the commencement of a new era—there
was a perceptible falling off in the amount of gambling in
comparison with what we have seen lately at Newmarket
and other places. The "plungers" seem to have calmed
down ; indeed, it is better for all parties that it should be
so, for the "monkeys" and thousands betted on the most
trivial events do not grow on trees, and when such enor-
mous amounts have to be paid on settling days, they are
either found wanting, or the money lenders have to pro-
vide the means at an enormous rate of interest for those
who are compelled to seek their aid. The racing on
Tuesday commenced with the Hunters' Stakes, which was
wort- by -the favourite, Mackintosh, and the backers drew
firstblood for a wonder. Helen was made a great favourite
for the Hurdle Race, loaa was bowled over by Maria Louise,
who is a splendid jumper. Eadaleigh made her debut iu
the jumping lino for this„event an 4 forwaid- stp was
schooled by that vrellskilrown verterat %eife'Linl,'"who is '
now engaged as private trainer *to Earl Poulott, and
brought all his horses to the post in splendid form,
especially Benazet, who is wonderfully improved, and won
his two steeple chases in a common canter, giving lots of
weight to everything in the race. Dawdle won The Fly-
ing Stakes vary cleverly, as I predicted she would do, and
from his running with Sundeolah at York it looked the
good thing it turned out to be. The " turned loose "
Blacklock won the Nursery by a head, for which his
backers are principally indebted to Butler's fine riding.
Maria Louise opened the ball on Wednesday by winning
the Hurdle race, my selected one, Thalassius, running
second ; but I fear Chris. Green will never be able to do
much good with this rank roarer, as he jumped the hurdles
very unkindly, and seems to have lost all form. The
talent spotted two good things in the next races, as The
Star and Yardarm both won in a canter. The Sefton
Steeple Chase brought out a field of twelve very good-
looking animals, of which old Meanwood proved the best, as
he won with consummate ease, carrying the steadier of 12st
71b. The King of Hearts, who was my choice, ran second, but
I think with a professional jockey in the saddle ho would
have given the winner a great deal more trouble. There are
no class of men who require a stronger nerve and more re-
solution than a sporting writer, for every lunatic one meets
volunteers false reports of private trials, which only tend
to make bad horses great favourites and fill the pockets of
bookmakers. Wo were told by the partisans of The Peer
that Friday could not win the Cup with 6st, and the
supporters of Regalia insisted that Caithness could not win
with 6st 71b, but their performances in the actual race
prove the fallacy of private trials. The mcment Regalia
was called upon, as at Lincoln, she shut up like the rank
jade she is. The public must now be satisfied that the
mare went for the money, and that the taker of the sensa-
tional bet about Caithness was by far the best judge, as the
latter with his original weight could not have lost. Indeed
if he had not been shut iu towards the finish ho might have
won as it was. The Poor verified the opinion 1 expressed
in the columns of The Racing Times, that he was a slow bad
horse, and that no boy could ride him ; and although he
was first favourite for some time, until the friends of Ro-
galia put their money down so freely, he turned out a great
impostor. Notwithstanding the assistance of the popu-
lar light weight was obtained, Kenyon could not get
him to go straight in any part of the raco. As regards the
winner, the following remarks were made by me in your
paper of the `23th ult. : -" Handrake is a f air, honest horse,
acid is not overwoighted, and as he ran a good race with
Julius and the Palmer at Newmarket that would be put-
ting the C:sarewitch winner in at ist 'lib, and he would be
a great favourite and nearly win, so that an investment on
Mandrake at his present price woull most likely turn out
a p:•olitable investinsnt." Those who took any advice at
that time would win thir money, as they never had any
chance of hedging it. Concerning Shrewsbury, the late
Daniel O'Connell used to make a boast of being the best
abused man in the House of Commons, and I think Mr.
Frail can say with truth that he is the most abused Clerk of
any course in England. At any rate certain parties find
fault with almost every thing he does. Nevertheless,
the programme before inn would do credit to Messrs.
Weatherby or the gallant Admiral at head-quarters,
and no impartial judge can detect the least partiality
shown to any one horse in the different handicaps
to be run at the ancient town of Shrewsbury this week.
There are only four races closed for Monday. The
Stewards' Cup has 41 horses entered, and whichever the
Palmer and Stephenson confederacy go for, Caithness or
Scipio, will about win. A lot of horses turned loose, such
as the Lizard, could not win with a postage stamp on their
back. Captain Kidd is well in, and will run well ; but I
shall stand Tom Dawson's selected and Scipio, as the
latter ran fast for a mile in the Liverpool Cup, and ought
to win in this company. I think Master Toddy has not
made a good match with Ainsley, to run his old crock
Moose against her for 100 sovs, as the winner of the Park
Hill Stakes would beat him at even weights. There aro
33 horses weighted for the Wynnstay Welter Handicap
and if Chepstow can't win ho ought to be turned out
of training, and next to him I have most fancy for
Confederate. The Carnival Nursery has the large
entry of 60, and no doubt -we shall soo about
20 runners, as there is quite that number that
seem to have a chance of winning. Without going
through the performances of all those that are likely to
take part in the race, I have most fancy for Janet Raw-
cliffe, Mariner, and Lictor; and as Fordham will ride the
latter, I shall vote for him to beat all corners. He beat
King Alfred at Newmarket, giving him 51b, and we saw
the Baron's colt get within three-quarters of a length of
Rosierucian iu the Criterion. The Cleveland Plato (five
furlongs) is a difficult race to deal with, as these short
spins so much depend on how they got off. Liddington
heads the list with 9st fib, and ho won at Bedford with
such ridiculous ease that one can hardly tell what weight he
could have carried, so I think ho is sure to boat all the
top weights hero. Next to him I fancy Deceiver and
Ironmaster. On Tuesday we have the Shrewsbury
Cup, Battlefield Handicap, and the Wrokin Stakes
open for discussion. If Rama runs he is sure to be a
great favourite for the Cup, but I do not place so much
confidence in his defeat of Lord Lyon at Lincoln, as some
people do, for I am quite sure if Challoner had only roused
Lord Lyon he would have won iu canter. I hope they
may bring Lord Lyon here to-morrow for the Queen's
Plate to meet Rama again, then we shall see who is right
and who wrong. I shall expect to see Mandrake win the
Queen's Plate against all comers, although some parties
tell mo the Corporal could give him 71b, but there is no-
thing like public form, and lam quite sure Mandrake
would have beat Julius and Palmer at Newmarket had
the course been a quarter of a mile longer. He is as
game a bit of stuff as ever was saddled, and, as 1 stated
before, his defeat of Beeswing, at York, was not such a
fluke as it was thought at the time ; but, as Unsworth
would say, I must return to the subject, and look out
for something to beat llama for the Cup. Lanaret,
Moulsev, Beeswing, and GOMera have too much
weight, and Mandrake's 141 b extra will stop him.
Challenge is not good enough to beat Rama,
although he cost £3,500. I really can't see anything to
beat llama, providing ho comes in as good a temper to the
post as he was at Lincoln. Now Guinea or Scipio might
beat him, as they are both turned loose. The Battlefield
Handicap is veryappropriately named, where Sir John Fal-
staff tolls us he fought Percy on the field where the races
are now held a long hour by Shrewsbury clock ; but the
Fat Knight was like the Irishman, for he killed Percy after
he was dead. Python or Aggravator will win, and if they
both run it will be a good race. Liddington ought to win
the Wrokin Stakes. Liddington is also in the Monk-
moor Handicap on Wednesday ; but ho will most likely
have incurred a penalty before thou—if not he will be dan-
gerous, but Problem will meet him hereon 14Ibs• better terms
than when she got second to him at Bedford, and may win.
The Column Handicap is a difficult rite° to deal sever s
• running settle the pretensions ofl
previous may
engaged in this race, but presuming they have not ina le a
mistake in the Corporal's trial, and if ho is as good a
horse as Mandrake at a mils and a quarter, he may win,
as the horse is here and looks and goes well. Previous
running may likewise settle the pretensions of some of
those engaged in the Copeland Nursery. Janet Raweliffe,
The Returned, and Morning Star look as well in as any-
thing. The Shobdon Cup I shall leave to Liddingtou and
Knight of the Garter. In the Newport Gold Cup 1 have
most fancy for Moulvy and linight of the Garter. Pre-
vious running is also sure to upset all calculations about the
Caldicot Nursery, therefore I shall not hazard an opinion
on that race, and shall at once dismiss the two Handicap
Hurdle raceA, and award both of them to Maria Louise. For
the Uawkstone Wolter Cup I fancy Confederate or Orne ;
the latter could win if ho would take it into his hea I to try.
For the Autumn Steeplechase I fancy Benazet, as he is in
such form just now that one can hardly tell what ho can
do with a lot of duffers; and the same may be said about
Flyftsher for the Lougner Steeplechase.