The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-25 00:00:00

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PRICE.— 4d.
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SPORTING INT EL LIG ENO E.

From the Newmarket Correspondent of the Racing Times)
The last act of the legitimate d►ama. of the turf has been
performed, with groat success, on the Lammas lands at
Warwick.. If it he true that good wine needs no bush, it
is also true that M. Ale:ry's last act needs no epilogue,
for ho has every cause to be proud of his most excellent
meeting. Never In the annals of racing have there been
such large fields at any country meeting, and the handi-
capping., with ono ortwo exceptions, gays general satis-
faction. D..rct•iver was put in, there is no doubt, on most
favourable terms in the handicap on Thurs lay, but there
wa3 not ►ouch in it after all, as Moonbeam ran him a close
race home, and was only beaten about a neck. I never
remember seeing so many horses on any race-course in
England, excepting Newmarket, as at Warwick on Tues-
day morning ; indeed itreminded one strongly of the Bury
hills at Newmarket in the month of March. The weather

was beautiful; in fact there was nothing to mar the
success of the last meeting of 1867, and it speaks volumes
for the flourishing state of the turf and its future prospects.
There were large fields for nearly all the races on Tues-
day, but luck was dead against the backers, and Pintail
was the only favourite that won during the day. Kettle-
holder was made a rattling favourite for the Nursery, and
as ho has been going to do a good thing for a long time and
this was his journey, when his plucky owner put the pieces
duwn the public followed suit, and made him a groat
favourite ; indeed so sanguine were the stable of his
winning that they would not allow Butler to have whip
or spurs, which, in my opinion, lost him the race. There
was some heavy wagering on the Hurdle Race, in which
the swells got a facer, as they laid long odds on Moni-
tress and Heurlys against the field, but the Squire's mare
was knocked on to her head at the last hurdle, and did
not recover from the mishap until the race was over,
when Harrington 'won in a canter. There was sonic
splendid racing on Wednesday. The Great Autumn Welter
Cup brought out 12 runners, and the favouritism was
equally divided between Knight of the Garter and King
of the Fairies, who ran a most exciting race home from
the distance, which resulted in the success of Captain
Machell's horse by a head. The Guy Cup brought out 13
runners, and terminated in the defeat of Cellina by a head.
Lord Stamford is dead out of luck, as he backed his filly
for a good stake Knight of the Garter ran forward, con-
sidering his heavy weight. Gardevisure was backed by
the public, but she ran very indifferently, which shows that
her Cambridgeshire backers were bad judges. Thermo-
meter turned out a good bargain for Mr. Ambrey, as he
won the Handicap of 5 sovs each and a geed stake in
bets. Alicia was backed for a good stake by her owner,
and having boon tried with Tortuga was considered by
those who were in the secret to be a good thing, but she
was left at the post, and Goodwin, who somehow or
other seldom gets off well, saw it was useless to perse-
vere with Mr. Barber's filly. Beautiful weather on Thurs-
day brought together the largest concourse of people ever
seen on Warwick racecourse, and I noticed several fresh
arrivals from London, which proved that there was some
brisk betting on the Midland Counties Handicap both in
London and the provinces. There had been commissions
sent all over England to back the Peer, Honesty, and
Blinkhoolie. The large field of 18 faced the starter, and
Mr. M'George got them well off at the first attempt.
After a fast. run race Blinkhoolie, in the hands of Kenyon,
won in a canter, and, as I stated after the Cesare witch
ho wanted a stronger boy to ride him than Jeffrey.
From his running here he would have given Julius some
trouble if Kenyon had been in the saddle. Time has given
us proof that it was not good policy to back Honesty for
any of his engagements, and that he is not worth one-
twentieth part of the money he was backed for. The
musty proverb that "second thoughts are best" have not
verified my notions of Honesty, for when I first
wrote I gave a correct account about him. I then
described him as a regular duffer, but the horse seemed to
improve every time I saw him. I thought he would have
had a chance for the Liverpool Cup, and coupled him
with Mandrake to pull me through ; and as
Honest/ saw the short price of 5 to 1, and
Mandrake won, it was not a bad selection after all.
Christmas Carol was second, and I have no doubt it will
cause him to be backed next year for some of the spring
handicaps should he gat well in ; but your readers must,
not place much confidence in his running second to Blink-
hoolie, as he has a will of his own, and won't try once iu
twenty times. Ho was in the humour this time, and had
Blinkhoolie been out of the race he would have done the
fielders a vast amount of service. lamat a loss to know
how such a good judge as Mr. Brayley could back such an
old crock as Pearl Diver for so much money ; halm 1 his
horse and The Peer were backed for more money than
they were worth in their best days. Some brisk betting
took place on the Selling Steeplechase, and Risk was
backed for most money, and she ought to have won in a
canter, as she was leading ten lengths when she refused the
fence adjoining the Swan Meadows.
Capt Machell was very near landing three good stakes
in bets on Friday, as Problem was only beaten by a head
in the Welter Race, and won the neat time of asking; and
Breadalbano, who came out in different form to what
we saw him in at Newmarket was within a head of
landing the Bradgate Cup. The Peer started first
favourite, in consequence of his noble owner and
and Sir Robert Peel backlog him for a load of money;
but he is just what I told your readers before the
Liverpool Cup—a slow, bad horse—and Kenyon was dis-
gusted with the brute, who was about the first horse beaten.
The Grand Annual Steeplechase brought out the large
field of 18, and although Lord Coventry declared to win
with Balder, his second string, Chimney Sweep won in a
canter; Helen, whom many people fancied would be kept
for the Grand Annual at Liverpool, running second. It was a
rattling pace from start to finish, and it was evident that
Chimney Sweep could have gone to the front any time
Jem Adams thought proper to let him. As soon as he
gave him his head he won just as he liked. The other
races at this meeting calls for no comment from me.
Mr. Verrall has provided a capital programme for the
lovers of steeplechasing at Croydon this week; and,
should the weather keep as fine as it has been at Warwick,
I have no doubt there will be an immense assemblage of
Cockneys there. For the Stewards' Plate, on Tuesday, I
have most fancy for Wings of the Wind and Standard
Bearer. Mr. Walker's horse won the Lincoln Steeplechase,
at Lincoln, in a canter, and Standard Bearer ran well for
three miles in the Grand National Steeplechase at Warwick
last week. For the Grand National Hurdle Race 1 can see
nothing to beat Maria Louise, who was a good fourth in the
Midland Counties Handicap, at Warwick, and I wonder
what weight Blinkhoolie could give all these opposed to
her at Croydon. Oldminster is in good form just now,
and will most likely win the Selling Steeplechase. I know
nothing about the Hunters' Race, and shall not hazard an
opinion. The Grand Metropolitan Steeplechase will be a
rich stake, and well worth winning, and all those who
think they have a chance can back their horses to win them
almost as much money as in the Grand National at Liverpool.
Astrolabe heads the list with 12st 71b, but as we have
never seen this race won by any horse with such a heavy
impost, I can't think the French mare has any chance to
compote with horses that have so much the best of the
weights. Daisy and Hall Court I have no fancy for.
Dispatch is a good-looking horse, and in the hands of a
clever man, but I am told he has been out for an airing
two or three times this year, and it might be so again at
Croydon, with an eye to Liverpool. Should the money go
on at Croydon I should advise your readers to follow suit.
Hornet is a good horse, and is sure to run well Chimney
Sweep has 101 b extra, which will most likely stop him, and
the stable may go for Balder. The next I have the most
fancy for is the Doctor, and as this country will suit him
ho will be dangerous, and knowing there has been a
strong commission in the market to back him, I should
advise him to be kept on the right side. The Knave of
Trumps has lost all form, and as he would not jump at
Liverpool he can have no chance this journey. There
are several in that could not win with any weight, and I
think Hornet, Pensioner, and The Doctor the best to stand
on, giving the preference to the latter, For the Croydon
Cup I have most fancy for Bonazet, and shall expect him
to win easy provided he starts.